Description:

This phase deals with the first synchronous operation of both beams at 450 GeV.

In the process of setting up separation bumps we might see the first collisions, although that is not the goal of the present procedure.

Beam intensities will initially range from 5 10⁹ to 3 10¹⁰ protons, with maximum 156 bunches. No crossing angle will be required.

The potential complications of having the two beams at the same time arise in the interaction regions, where the beams share the same vacuum chamber, with common magnetic elements and beam diagnostics.

In this phase a first detailed assessment of the interaction regions will be given, providing a basis for further work in later stages, when two beam operations  with high intensities will become challenging.

As intensities increase, the requirements on machine protection are more stringent, in particular two beam operations with unsafe beams will require fully operational automatic machine protection.