13-12-2008 Large Hadron Collider (Article 167)

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Simon Kenny
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Location: Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland

13-12-2008 Large Hadron Collider (Article 167)

Post by Simon Kenny » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:06 pm

Large Hadron Collider (Article 167)
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and highest energy particle accelerator. It will accelerate beams of protons in opposite directions to near the speed of light, around a specially built circular tunnel 27km in circumference, before causing them to collide. The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) built the LHC under the Franco Swiss border near the city of Geneva. Construction involved over 10,000 scientists and engineers, took over 10 years to build and cost over €4 billion.

Enormous strides have been made in our understanding of the Universe; four forces of nature identified — the Electromagnetic, Gravity, Weak Nuclear. Strong Nuclear. Matter has been dissected to where we now have what is called the Standard Model: electrons, quarks, neutrinos etc. The model goes some way in explaining how all these particles and forces are related and intertwined.

Of the four forces of nature, Gravity is the weakest, yet it is all pervasive and the least well understood. It is known that all objects produce gravitational fields — planets, stars, you, and me. What is Gravity?

Looking at the night sky we see mostly stars, yet all that we see, even using the most powerful telescopes, is only about 4% of the universe. It is now estimated that the remainder consists of 22% Dark Matter and 74 % Dark Energy. But what are they? Well, it is expected that the LHC will provide some answers to the questions raised above. Of course it may very well be that more questions will be raised than are answered. In the Standard Model, the particle that is thought to carry the secret of Gravity is the Higgs boson. In order to find the Higgs it is necessary to delve further and further into the sub atomic structure of atoms. Just like colliding two hazel nuts, travelling at high velocities in opposite directions, the resulting debris will indicate the interior of the hazel nuts so also will the collisions generated in the LHC indicate the structure of the sub atomic particles and hopefully find the Higgs boson. Finding the Higgs could also lead to understanding what constitutes Dark Matter and Dark Energy.

While previous particle accelerators in the US and at CERN have greatly increased our understanding of the atomic structure they are not powerful enough to take our understanding to the next level. The LHC will be capable of generating enormous energies at the sub atomic level close to those of the energies created at the Big Bang. Some concern has been raised that the LHC might even generate microscopic black holes, which could grow, eventually ‘devouring’ the Earth. The concerns are unfounded as such energies are routinely generated when cosmic rays enter our atmosphere.

The first live test of the LHC was conducted on the 10 September 2008. Nine days later the tests were halted by a faulty electrical connection. It will take some time to repair as the temperature in the area of the fault has to be brought up, very slowly, from —271 Celsius to room temperature and reduced again. The real work is planned for Spring 2009.
Unfortunately Ireland is not a member of CERN and therefore does not participate directly at the leading edge of scientific quest. Prof Rolf Dieter- Heuer, the incoming Director General of CERN on recent visit to Dublin, expressed the wish that Ireland would join.

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