Time constraints for the experiment

A future neutrino experiment would have to fit into the overall CERN machine schedule. In particular, the following constraints must be taken into account:

• It is foreseen that disruptions to the SPS operation will be introduced in 1999 as a consequence of the LHC civil engineering related to the excavation of the shafts and caverns for the experiments. The estimated SPS down-time in 1999 due to the re-alignment of the SPS caused by the excavations is about 60 hours (7 interventions each of about 8 hours duration) [50].
• In addition, the SPS supercycle presented above assumes that a future neutrino experiment would be operational only after the end of LEP II. The last year of approved LEP II operation is 1999.

Therefore, the year 2000 seems to be the earliest full year at which a next generation neutrino experiment could take data. It should be remembered that a fraction of this year would be devoted to the excavation of the transfer line from the SPS to the LHC but a neutrino experiment could be scheduled around this work.