Challenging issues during ESRF storage ring commissioning

Third-generation synchrotron light sources raise numerous challenges associated with the low emittance requirement. The 6 GeV ESRF storage ring is among the first of these new sources to successfully meet these challenges. This paper will emphasise some of the most significant outcomes achieved during the ten month commissioning. The experimental approach to obtain the large dynamic aperture needed to allow the injection-accumulation process and a long lifetime will be presented. The upgrading of the predicted current thresholds set by multibunch instabilities and transverse mode coupling will be discussed. We will as well report on photon beam stability which is one of the most stringent requirements for the high brilliance light sources