Inside CERN: Incredible Physics!

by 

  Sanjeev. G


CERN or the European Laboratory of Particle Physics is an international particle physics laboratory based in Geneva in Switzerland. It houses the LHC or the Large Hadron Collider which is the World’s largest particle accelerator. CERN was founded in 1954 with most of its research in atomic physics which later evolved into the study of high energy particles and subatomic particles obtained through particle collisions. After the Second World War, a handful of visionary scientists like Niels Bohr, Edoardo Amaldi and Werner Heisenberg conceptualized the idea of a nuclear physics laboratory comprising of eminent physicists and academics not only from Europe, but from all over the World. A leading world class research institute dedicated solely for the benefit of all mankind was thus established. CERN now consists of 22 member states and 6 associate states including India.

  The Large Hadron Collider established in 2008

Humans thought that atoms were the final layer of reality and nothing existed beyond that. But with advancements in Quantum Physics, we knew that there existed something even smaller. We figured, that if we smash two atoms together, we would discover something extraordinary. The main idea behind particle collisions is to accelerate two particles to extremely high speeds and put them on head on head collision course. When the particles collide each other, we discover many other subatomic particles also very commonly known as elementary particles.  

                                      

So how does this happen? Well, the particles (say protons) are accelerated and guided through a 27 km long ring like ultrahigh vacuum tunnel by a set of special superconducting electromagnets. These magnets need to be chilled to a temperature of -271.3 ℃ (colder than outer space). The protons are accelerated by these electromagnets to a staggering speed of 99.99% the speed of light. Then they collide with each other revealing the presence of many elementary particle like muons, pions, neutrinos etc. All of these are collectively called hadrons, hence the name Large Hadron Collider. Highly specialized detectors are used in this process. A new particle known as the Higgs Boson was discovered at CERN in 2012. CERN also has a variety of other particle physics experiment mechanisms and particle accelerators.


 Collisions like these help physicists study these tiny structures that make up the Universe. Unravelling these fascinating particles is truly a great milestone for humankind and is a step closer to understanding how the Universe works.


Thank you!


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