Summary of the rhic performance during the FY07 heavy ion run

After the last successful RHIC Au-Au run in 2004 (Run-4), RHIC experiments now require significantly enhanced luminosity to study very rare events in heavy ion collisions. RHIC has demonstrated its capability to operate routinely above its design average luminosity per store of 2times10
²⁶
cm
^-2
s
^-1
. In Run-4 we already achieved 2.5 times the design luminosity in RHIC. This luminosity was achieved with only 40% of the total possible number of bunches filled, and with beta* = 1 m. However, the goal is to reach 4 times the design luminosity, an average of 8times10
²⁶
cm
^-2
s
^-1
, by reducing the beta* value and increasing the number of bunches to the accelerator maximum of 111. In addition, the average time at store was expected to be increased by a factor of 1.1 to about 60% of calendar time. We present an overview of the changes that increased the instantaneous luminosity, luminosity lifetime and integrated luminosity of RHIC Au-Au operations during Run-7 even though the goal of 60% time at store could not be reached.