First Operational Experience Of The CNGS Facility

The CNGS project (CERN Neutrinos to Gran Sasso) aims at directly detecting nu(mu) - nu(tau) oscillation. An intense muon-neutrino beam (10(17)nu(mu)/day) is generated at CERN and directed towards the Gran Sasso National Laboratory, LNGS, in Italy, where the v(tau) will be detected in large and complex detectors. An overview of the CNGS beam facility is given. The performance of the primary and secondary beam line during beam commissioning and physics operation is discussed. Modifications on the magnetic focusing lenses (horn and reflector) are described.