Lessons from SPS studies in 2010

The experimental studies done in the SPS in 2010 were devoted both to a validation of some already proposed upgrades (as chamber coating) and to uncovering new limitations by pushing up injected bunch intensity. The first results obtained for ultimate (injected) LHC beam with 25 ns and 50 ns bunch spacing, each beam available only during one MD session in the SPS, will be presented together with results for a single high intensity bunch. The limitations envisaged during these MD studies will be discussed together with other SPS bottlenecks. Possible cures and mitigation will be revisited. An option for improvement of beam stability in the SPS, opened again by successful demonstration of reduction of the SPS transition energy, will also be discussed. The potential for delivering small transverse emittances now and after upgrades will be analysed. An attempt will be made at summarizing the accessible range of beam parameters (intensity per bunch as a function of distance between bunches and emittance)