Speaker
Description
Increasingly stringent alignment requirements in particle accelerators have led to the development of dedicated high-accuracy alignment systems. While qualification procedures exist for standard metrology instruments, no established methodology is available for the qualification of research and development alignment systems and their associated references. This paper presents a generic qualification process developed for the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) alignment strategy and subsequently applied to the LHC and HL-LHC project. The methodology combines theoretical modelling, individual sensor qualification, short-range validation through dedicated mock-ups, and long-range validation using large-scale test facilities. Its implementation is illustrated through the qualification of the Wire Positioning System (WPS) and the Hydrostatic Levelling System (HLS). The results demonstrate the ability to characterize sensor performance, quantify environmental influences, validate alignment references, and assess long-term stability at the micrometre level. The proposed approach provides a transferable framework for the qualification of future alignment systems.
