Stage A - Pilot Beams

• main aim:
  • drive the beam expeditiously through the BeamProductionChain (BPC): from the sources, through the synchrotrons, beam transfers, up to the experimental targets/storage rings
  • check basic 'accelerator mechanics': threading, injection, capture, cool, convert, acceleration/decelerate, stripping & extraction
  • identify beam-related limitations: polarities, RF, beam instrumentation, machine alignment, effective physical machine aperture, …
• always done with 'safe' resp. low-intensity/brightness beam
  • initially with 'easily available' ions (e.g. U28+, Ar → simpler optics, beam dynamics, etc.), then protons (tests transition crossing, etc.)

Stage B - Intensity Ramp-up & Special Systems

• main aim:
  • achieving and maintaining nominal machine performance for a limited number of reference beam
  • check that the accelerator design and systems can achieve (near) nominal beam parameters, e.g. beam intensities, nominal transmission and beam losses for e.g. U28+ & proton beams, etc.
• commissioning of e.g. e-cooler (if not needed earlier), slow extraction, transverse fast feedbacks
• commissioning and validation of machine protection & interlock systems
• possibly unsafe operations always preceded by checks with safe beam

Stage C - Production Operation with nominal Intensities

• main aim:
  • make fast setup and switch-over between different BeamProductionChains routine
  • push physics and beam parameter performance (intensity, brightness/emittance, momentum spread, …)
  • identify and improve upon bottlenecks impacting FAIR's 'figure-of-merit
  • improve the machine model using beam-based techniques
• N.B. first time counted as 'commissioning' or 'assisted operation' → later: 'regular operation'