Impact of non-linearities on collimation losses at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Since the start of the third operational run of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2022, multiple observations have highlighted the significant influence of non-linearities within the accelerator on the collimation loss patterns of circulating beams. Understanding this phenomenon is particularly relevant for qualifying and validating collimation performance for machine operation at high intensity. In this study, we explore the capability of advanced numerical simulations to reproduce the observed loss patterns, incorporating a detailed representation of various nonlinearities. These include strong octupole fields and high chromaticity. An in-depth analysis comparing the simulation results to experimental measurements was conducted. These findings provide valuable insights into the interplay between machine non-linearities and beam losses.