First LHC sector reaches nominal temperature

The cooling down of the first LHC sector (sector 4-5) was successfully completed on 15 November; it has now been cooled with superfluid helium to a temperature of 1.9 K (−271.3 °C), which is the nominal operational condition. The final cryogenic commissioning of the sector is ongoing, prior to handover to the electrical quality assurance team for the final electrical tests.

In parallel, three sectors are currently being cooled down (sectors 7-8, 3-4 and 5-6), and the cooling-down process for two other sectors (8-1 and 1-2) has just begun. The last two sectors (1-2 and 6-7) will follow suit early next year, thus allowing the entire LHC to run at its nominal cryogenic conditions as of spring 2021.