RE: First collisions at the LHC with unprecedented Energy! (Ask a particle physisicist)
May 21, 2015 at 11:56 am
(This post was last modified: May 21, 2015 at 11:59 am by Alex K.)
(May 21, 2015 at 11:32 am)Neimenovic Wrote: What is that, what does it do and why? am I supposed to be excited?Well, where do I start. By smashing (elementary) particles together at huge energies you can "ask" Nature to do interesting things with that energy you provide, and these occurrences you can then observe. By doing so, one can extract a clearer and clearer picture of the fundamental laws governing everything that takes place in the universe. One thing particle colliders typically aim to observe is new kinds of particles which are hitherto unknown, but which might be produced in the collision if enough energy is provided.
The collider had a down time of 2 years and just started up again with more energy than any other man-made particle reaction ever before. This opens up the possibility to see new phenomena occurring that no one has ever seen.
Quote:Bonus question: what does it have to do with rock crushing equipment?
Well, the collider is located in a 27 kilometer long circular tunnel 100 meters under ground. I'm pretty sure that more than a bit of rock crushing occurred when it was dug out in the 80s.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
