--- title: Minutes of the PS & SPS User Meeting --- # PS-SPS Users Meeting for Week 16 held on 16 April 2026 Coordinator : Martin Jäkel Except : * 01.04-20.04 Paolo Martinengo ## News from the PS & SPS Physics Coordinator M.R. Jäkel, P. Martinengo CLEAR will run during LS3 (electrons up to 220 MeV) If interested, contact Davide Gamba (Davide.Gamba@cern.ch)  https://clear.cern/?check_logged_in=1 https://indico.cern.ch/event/1661754/ ### Welcome to the PS/SPS user meetings 2026 ! :::info **Physics Run 2026 Information :** * n-TOF p+ : 05.02.2026 -> 31.08.2026 * EA Physics p+ : 11.02.2026 -> 31.08.2026 * NA Physics p+ : 11.03.2026 -> 03.08.2026 * NA Pb Ions : 07.08.2026 -> 31.08.2026 * EA Physics PB Ion (T8) 19.08.2026 -> 31.08.2026 ::: :::info **Beam requests** : Please submit via new interface (!) https://asm.app.cern.ch/coordination/beam-requests Currenty open periods : * LS3 East Area * LS3 North Area * TELMAX / AD Elena ::: :::success **PS/SPS Test Beam schedule 2026** : V. 1.0 (as approved by the Research Board) : See [[Coordination page](https://ps-sps-coordination.web.cern.ch/ps-sps-coordination)] ::: **Injector schedule** : 2026, [[v1.2](https://edms.cern.ch/document/3180469/1.2)] - (version 1.3 in works) :::warning **Available beam weeks** : W18 in H6 w/o main user (ATLAS ITK Pixel withdrew) Please contact me asap if you can take any of the available beam time. ::: :::info **EuroLabs :** Applications are CLOSED. Currently funding under review. ::: **Target intensities:** See via [ASM](https://asm.app.cern.ch/experimental-area/experiments) ### News from the Facilities Operations Meeting (FOM/TIOC) **Upcoming SPS MDs next weeks :** https://be-dep-ea.web.cern.ch/content/md-planning-north-area Dedicated SPS MDs - if not anounced differently - are taking place from 8:00 to 18:00 --- ## PS Machine Report (Yann Dutheil) * availability of 97.9% * Dominated by RF issues last week, no major concern * nominal beam production  ## SPS Machine Report (Arthur Spierer) - Availability Thu-Thu: NA 92% - Downtime mostly related to injector complex - LHC was down from Monday morning to Wednesday noon - Plans for next week - Standard MD week: - Short parallel on Mo, Tue, Fri - Dedicated on Wed - Long parallel on Thu - Reliability Run continues (after LHC fills) ## Safety (J. Devine) **Chemical Safety** Did you leave an open container of hazardous substances in your beam line zone (PPE156) recently? If so please let me know today.  There are several important safety points which this incident (IDF 11724544) raises: - The container is marked as irritant (!) and CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reproductive Harm). If the conents are no longer antifreeze (likely, as it was coloured blue), the label of the container needs to be updated - i.e. cross out the non-applicable labels and write the new content clearly. - The fire brigade, if called to the zone, would be obliged to treat the substance as hazardous, even if it has only been refilled with water. - The lid was missing, leading to a much greater risk of spill. - For longer term storage, it should be on a bunded pallet (i.e. retention tray so that any spill doesn't contaminate the surrounding area) **ISIECs for next week:** - Please complete your [ISIEC submission](https://ep-th-safety.web.cern.ch/isiec-safety-clearance) at least one week in advance. A dedicated time slot for safety inspections is reserved for Wednesday afternoons (15:00-17:00). - **Missing ISIECs:** - ALICE ITS3 - ATLAS BCM PRIME - ATLAS ITK PIXEL - Submitted ISIECs: - ACROMASS - ALICE FOCAL - CMS PIXEL - Safety shoes and helmets are obligatory when you enter beam facilities. Failure to do so is considered a professional fault and may result in being denied a safety clearance and a suspension of access rights, confer [EDMS 1223620](https://edms.cern.ch/document/1223620). See also detailed information in [EDMS 3413229](https://edms.cern.ch/document/3413229/2) for the East Hall and EHN1. - Food and drinks are not allowed in radiologically classified areas. - For special requirements (e.g. flammable gases, fluorinated gases, bringing your own lifting equipment, etc.) contact us as soon as possible. ## TT2A Main: n_TOF (Alice Manna, Paolo M Milazzo) Smooth data taking - EAR1: 147Sm(n, g) with C6D6 liquid scintillators - EAR2: natK(n, p) with an array of silicon detectors - NEAR: 14N(n, p), activation   ## East Area Beam Status (Laurie Nevay) On call phone number: :phone: [67500](tel:+41227667500) T09: Good operation. Beam file prepared for ENUBET. To be finetuned if needed. T10: Good operation. T11: No user. ## East Area Users Tour de Table ### T8 Main: IRRAD CHARM (S.Fiore / F.Ravotti) Good week in terms of beam delivery: intensity delivered to T8 ~3.00E+16 p/w (above the reference of 2.75E+16 p/w) and TID generated by the CHARM target ~500 Gy/w (on reference). Very stable beam on both axes: ~96-97% of the spills were within +/- 2mm from the center on both X and Y axes. The last low-energy proton MD took place yesterday morning (Wednesday) before the 9AM access. During the access, in IRRAD the R2E setup was removed and replaced with two new installations: ATLAS-ITk Strip R5 and ATLAS ITk quad v2. The ongoing experiments continue without changes: FTIR studies of Si samples, Si radiation damage models for future hadron colliders, and very high dose irradiation of epoxy resins for accelerator magnets. In CHARM, EPR setups were exchanged for component-level testing. We run with the standard beam for a new full week.  ### T09 Outgoing Main: Beamline Development (D. Banerjee) * Very productive beam time. * Collected all the data planned. * Analysis ongoing. ### T09 Main: NP06 ENUBET (Giosuè Saibene) We have installed the main parts of the PICOSEC detectors on Wednesday. Moreover, we set up the gas line (last year was all done by the CERN crew) and we asked for a flow control to David Jaillet which was not installed. We carried out the safety visit in early afternoon. We are in touch with Dipanwita to set up the beam files for the beamtest. Today, we are completing the installation of the front-end electronics for the PICOSEC and setting up the DAQ. The run plan is: * Runs with muon beam to establish the time resolution and tracking efficiency of the three PICOSEC detectors * Runs with lead absorber between the PICOSEC plane to establish the tracking capabilities in realistic conditions (the ENUBET instrumented hadron dump) * High intensity run aiming at 10^6 particles per spill  ### T9 Incoming Main: ACROMASS (Lorenzo Bonechi, Catalin Frosin) - Purpose: cosmic-rays studies - Detector: magnetic spectrometer + e.m. calorimeter + TOF - total weight: 250 kg - approximate size 60cm x 60cm x 100cm  - Installation confirmed: 22/04 - We need handling for unloading the detector from the van - We need the overhead crane to move it to the T9 area  - A Desy table with remote control is requested to move the detector H and V (geometrical scan) - **Possibly near the beam pipe** to avoid long air gaps between the beam pipe window and the detector, which has not negligible effects at very low momentum Next picture shows the 2025 configuration. Currently the system has been slightly simplified (less benchtop power supplies)  - Beam: electrons, muons and hadrons, positive and negative; - Momentum: 0.1-15 GeV/c (more detailed at low energy) - Cherenkov detector: - the low pressure Cherenkov detector available at T9 is required - ISIEC: submitted - in contact with Evelyne Dho for the safety inspection, scheduled on 22/04 at 17:00 ### T10 Outgoing Main: EIC ePIC LFHCal (David Kapukchyan, Oskar Hartbrich) First time testing full design module of forward endcap hadron calorimeter for ePIC detector at EIC. Two modules were tested here. Expect 8 modules at SPS. Readout is close to final design.  We took data with positive and negative hadron beams over full energy range of 1-10 GeV and muons at 5 GeV - 75 million triggered events (last beam in November we got 27.5 million) - Completed intended program several times over with varying electronics configurations and bias scans Sample MIP signal shown below <img src="https://codimd.web.cern.ch/uploads/upload_20d8911dd8325999afb508181077d385.png" width="300"> Only possible from great work from PS operations for giving us beam with no down time and generous amount of spills :) - Thank you to Maarten for teaching us how to operate and set the beam parameters as well as for beamline support - Thank you to Abou and team for support and CERN transport and craning Everything was measured clear by Radiation Protection and modules are back in their crates. Transport request for crates to Prevessin will be filed soon. Hope its ok to keep crates in PS hall as shown until Monday  We have SPS beam time scheduled May 13-20 which will be last test beam of LFHCAL before construction. With this we finished low energy scans and with SPS beam test hope to finish the high energy ones. ### T10 Main: RE7 GAMMA MEV (Leonardo Di Venere) We are testing the ADAPT detector in preparation of the balloon flight. Layout of the experiment includes a Fiber tracker triggering system, an Anticoincindence (ACD) module of ADAPT and the full ADAPT detector (tracker+calorimeter modules)  The ADAPT detector was shipped from USA roughly two weeks ago and was supposed to arrive at CERN yesterday. However, it was blocked by a Lufthansa strike in Frankfurt and is now scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Yesterday the area was prepared with DESY table and the custom platform to host the ADAPT box (many thanks to Abou, Eva and the rest of the team!). We will need the same platform at SPS H8 in two weeks. Also the N2 gas was prepared, thanks! With Maarten we setup the beam for pions and electrons. We installed the trigger + ACD module and had the safety cleareance for this part. We started taking data yesterday evening.  If the remaining part of the detector is delivered tomorrow, we will install it tomorrow morning (EDH transport request: 11724880 ) and ask for a second safety check tomorrow afternoon. ### T10 Incoming Main: ALICE ITS3 (Please insert your name) ### TELMAX Outgoing Main: PAX-Ca (Takashi Higuchi) Started measurement of antiprotonic atom X-rays with a Ca target. This target was smaller than what was used earlier. During the MD on Wednesdya with the support of the AD operators, the beam tuning was adjusted to have a more focused spot on target. The upgraded deflector control on the TELMAX line (same control as other lines of ELENA (horizontal/ vertical offsets, horizontal/vertical angles) was also tested on Wednesday.  ## North Area Beam Status (Laurie Nevay) On call phone number: :phone: [67500](tel:+41227667500) **H2/H4**: Smooth operation. **H6**: Beam tuning a little longer than usual due to the missing quadrupole during commissioning, but beam optimised for small size and high rate in both zones. New software implemented that will turn off quadrupoles in PPE146 when in access and turn back on again afterwards. **H8**: Good operation. **M2**: No issues. **P42/K12**: No issues from the beamline. Asked SPS-OP to look at 800MHz structure reported by NA62 and they will give feedback soon as it stopped in the last few days. ## North Area Users Tour de Table ### H2 Outgoing Main: RE30 KM3NET (Pietro Betti) - Tested a KM3NeT DOM (Digital Optical Module) with a beam for the first time - Tank (3x1x1 $m^3$) filled with magnet cooling water, the DOM measured Cherenkov light emitted by beam particles in water  - System worked very well and we had a quite smooth week of data taking - Main beams used: - $\mu ^{+}$ @180, 80 GeV - $\pi ^{+}$ @80 GeV - $e^{-}$ @100, 80, 50, 20 GeV - Stereoscopic view of the PMT on the DOM with number of hits per PMT with muons @180 GeV -  - This first beam test demonstarted the possibility to test a high-energy neutrino detector optical module with a beam test - In the next months data analysis in order to characterize the response od the sensore and tune the experiment simulation - Thanks to all the SPS members for the support the large logistic effort needed for this beam test ### H2 Main: EP FTS (Julie Delenne) - We started installing the set-up yesterday once the area was free around 1pm.  - The safety visit was completed. - Thanks a lot to Bastien for setting up the beamfiles yesterday at 7pm. - Yesterday night, we did some debugging, alignment and started data-taking using mixed hadrons and muons beams. This morning we are measuring the performance and timing properties of novel scintillators starting with electrons of 20 GeV/c. For the moment, still debugging. ### H2 Incoming Main: ALICE FOCAL (Tommaso Isidori) **Goals:** - FoCal-H: Performance validation after new fibers production’s test and assembly and new readout chip version’s configurations - FoCal-E: No testing group, however EPICAL ALPIDE pixel setups in beam with FoCal to exploit the synergies between the two tests (ALPIDEs detectors will also be part of FoCal) - **Installation:** - ~ 1.5T FoCal-H pre-production prototype + EPICAL pixel+Tungsten calorimeter - FoCal-H on concrete block on Nikhef frame (crane needed) - EPICAL on dedicated XSCA - trigger on second XSCA - Same alignement strategy of October 2025 (drilled concrete block to host the detector's alignement system - We would like to move the detector to 887 on Tueseday 21st - In case the pre-drilled block (from 2025) is not available, we would be available to drill the mask on Tue 21st - Safety clearance scheduled for 17:30 on Wed - **Beam parameters:** - Hadrons (+/-) - 60 - 360 GeV (according to availability) - rates up to 10^4 - 10^5 - Electrons - 20 - 200 GeV (according to availability) - rates up to 10^4 - 10^5  ### H4 Main: NA64e (L. Molina Bueno) We continue data taking with 100 GeV electrons. We have collected 3.8x10^11 EOT. This week also we perform new calibration of our calorimeters for stability. ### H6 Outgoing Main: ATLAS HGTD (Simon Koch, Marion Missio) We've had a very successful test-beam the past fortnight, measuring 7 two-chip ALTIROC modules in two different configurations (single readout and three-module readout) in the ACONITE telescope to characterise the time resolution, and help isolate noise coupling issues in single- and multi-module setups. We performed both HV and parameter scans for most of the subjects. We used a 120GeV mixed hadron beam with a ~1x2cm vertical beam aperture, and an FEI-4b plane for trigger ROI and trigger reference. Pack-down was completed yesterday, and the in-beam DUTs have already been cleared by RP and will be transported in the coming day(s). Initial analysis already shows significant differences in noise coupling between single-module and multi-module setups, and we will use the coming weeks and months to further investigate. More in-depth efficiency and time resolution analyses will also be performed in the near future. A big thank you to Laurie for ensuring we had great beam conditions in the ACONITE telescope the past two weeks, and to the SPS team for the support and beam provision! Thanks also to Andre, Samy, and the ITk Pixel team for all their help and support with the ACONITE telescope.  Installation of three DUTs on the 6-module test board  Timing reference from MCP PMT   Beam spot in ALTIROC ASICs of 2-chip module. (2cm x 1cm trigger mask applied using FEI-4b reference plane)  The HGTD team :) ### H6 Outgoing Parallel: CMS MTD ETL (F. Garcia) The test beam was successful and enough data was collected for all three setups.  The first setup is the ETROC-CELip telescope, which was tested in three different configurations:  With the following I-V curves for all the planes at room temeperature.  The second setups is a LGAD standard connected to homebrew RF preamplifiers and waveform digitizer SAMPIC  The last setup is the Planacon PMT-MCP 64ch connected to the waveform digitizer SAMPIC (64ch module).  Data was collected for two configurations with the Aluminium block and without. The thanks goes to: - The North Area Infratructure team and the crane operators. Excellent job, everything was in time and worked as intended. - The safety inspection team for their fast reaction to all our needs. Excellent checks and good advices to improve the safe operation of our setups, specially the PMT-MCP ~2.3kV. - The beam physicist team. The beam was perfect unfortunatelly I didn't have time left to play with the magnets to increase/decrease the coverage area. - Cooperation with the upstream groups, specially for good working enviroment and short access, this was very much appreciated. Now, the data available for teams that will take the data nalaysis job. Again many thanks! ### H6 Main: ALICE ITS3 (Please insert your name) ### H6 Parallel: EP PIXEL (Dominik Dannheim) - Providing feedback to Laurie for tuning of beam shape in H6B, using new magnet system at the end of H6A. - Excellent narrow beam profile observed with RMS at our DUT of 1.5 mm in horizontal direction and 3.0 mm in vertical direction. 90% of beam particles contained in our ~2 cm$^2$ telescope acceptance. Thank you, Laurie! Moved telescope by 3.7 mm horizontally, to achieve beam centered in telescope (for centered beam in wire-chambers). <img src="https://codimd.web.cern.ch/uploads/upload_a3dc9c0bdae8b3dca82e42997b4453b0.jpg" alt="Beam profile run 22037" width="400">a - For comparison: in previous beam periods, we had a 3x larger beam profile: RMS of 3.5 mm in both directions and only ~70% of beam particles contained in telescope acceptance. - Beam rate ~3.1E6 / spill for 3 spills / SC, limited by radiation levels in monitor PAXNA14612 above bridge between H6A and H6B. - May try today to flip optics settings, to achieve narrower beam in vertical direction and wider beam in horizontal direction, which would be better adapated to our current H2M DUT geometry and mounting (active matrix of 2.24 mm x 0.56 mm). ### H6 Incoming Main: ATLAS ITK PIXEL (Please insert your name) ### H6 Incoming Parallel: ATLAS BCM PRIME (Andrej Gorisek) - Received nev version of ASIC Calypso_E - 5 modules with chip only assembled. Being tested in hte lab. Some final configuration modification still needed. - Will equip 2-3 modules with standard ATLAS18 Si strip detestors for evaluation in the test beam next week - ISIEC submitted. The same as 1 week ago. ### H6 Incoming Parallel: CMS PIXEL (Please insert your name) ### H8 Outgoing Main: CMS MTD BTL (Ozgur Sahin) This was the last beam test before the installation of the MTD BTL detector, which will be the first Phase-II detector installed for CMS.  We had already performed module performance tests in previous beam tests, including in the same area. The main goal of this beam test was therefore to evaluate the performance of the DAQ system. We have tested various DAQ and trigger settings during the beam test after confirming baseline operation conditions. Apart from one board failure, we completed the test program successfully, while once again confirming the excellent performance of the BTL detector modules and the readout electronics. At the beginning, we observed a double peak along one of the beam axes, which was later resolved after an improvement of the beam focus.   Matched hit multiplicities of one short (top) and long - ~1h (bottom) runs. We benefited from excellent beam conditions with very little downtime. Our first reconstruction results already confirm that we are meeting our design goal of better than 35 ps time resolution. We would like to thank the whole team, and especially Marteen, for the excellent and very prompt support. ### H8 Outgoing Parallel: STI (L.S. Esposito) - We completed data taking and characterised:  - two LHC-type crystals - a MVRA (twin of the one installed in the SPS). - The analysis of these data will allow us to improve the R&D in crystal manufacturing and assembly.   - We’d like to thank Maarten for his excellent support, especially his extra work over the weekend fixing the optics.  - We’ll be back in July for the final test beam before LS3. ### H8 Main: LHCB (L. Martinazzoli) - Unusual bumpy installation - Delayed till after 11 by dismantling of the previous users and craning in the area of the equipment. - We got in touch with the users ahead of time, but the schedule of dismantling was unclear. - At 9, we were told our equipment + DESY table would be craned around 11h30. Eventually, it happened earlier. Thanks to the onsite infrastructure team who visibly did their best - Clearly an exceptional situation, but could this be improved? - For instance communicating a tentative infrastructure schedule to the users, e.g. "we plan to move your table at ..." - Fortunately, we could leave the TimePix telescope mostly installed 2 weeks ago and focus on installing the RICH box —> managed to set up by safety visit + take beam during the night Thanks a lot to Laurie and Maarten for the help with the beam!  ### H8 Parallel: 4DPHOTON (Nicolò V. Biesuz) Setup installed in PPE-158. Safety inspection completed yesterday (15/04, ~17:00) — thank you for accommodating this.  System bring-up is scheduled for this morning. Alignment is planned for today at 14:00. We expect to be ready for data taking by late afternoon. The LHCb beam is too intense for our use. We will therefore operate with the shutter closed and rely on secondary muons; higher primary beam intensity is advantageous under these conditions. We expect to remain in free access most of the time. If lower intensity becomes available, we may open the shutter depending on beam characteristics — ideally ~10³ particles/spill with a narrow beam (~1 cm). ### M2 Main: AMBER (Norihiro DOSHITA) Main activities for this week - Two Helium pipes installed - Flammable gas safety inspection for TPC done - 100 kV HV test of TPC at 14 bar nitrogen on going - Preparations of SPDs and SFHs istallations on going  Planning - SciFis test with beam tonight - Final TPC leak test at 20 bar with helium gas - Installation of SFH02 for UTS2 on Friday - Installations of SPDs next week Remark of parking at ENH2 - Contractors always park their cars on the forbidden place. - My colleague polaitly asked them to move, but… ### K12 Main: NA62 (M. Francesconi) Smooth data taking until MD whenever beam was available. Noticed that parallel MD spill sometime spoils SFT producion spill. 800MHz structure on the beam profile, since RF cavity issue last week, fixed since approximately 13th April Afternoon. Example on coincidence between a detector pair from fast data processing (situation even worse on other detector): **Before**  **After**  Long restart after MD yesterday due to IT request to move experiment main server to a different subnet. ### H6 Parasitic: MONOLITH (Please insert your name) ### H6 Parasitic: ATLAS MALTA (Please insert your name) ### H8 Parasitic: STRAW TRACKER RD (Please insert your name) --- ## AoB --- _Minutes by the respective speakers, edited by M. Jäkel and M. Malkin_