CERN to Test World's Most Powerful Particle Accelerator During April's Solar Eclipse
First Physics Experiments Commence for 2024 Run
By Jannat Un Nisa | April 1, 2024
Geneva, Switzerland - As the first signs of spring emerge at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world's foremost particle physics laboratory is gearing up for a momentous scientific endeavor. CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the most powerful particle accelerator in existence, will commence its third run in April 2024, with an ambitious agenda to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.
The LHC's first fixed-target physics experiments will commence in the PS East Area on March 22, followed by the PS n_TOF facility on March 25. These experiments will lay the groundwork for the collider's primary mission: to recreate conditions a fraction of a second after the Big Bang, the moment of the universe's birth.
On April 8, the LHC will unleash beams of protons at nearly the speed of light through its 17-mile-long tunnel. These collisions will generate vast amounts of data that will be meticulously analyzed by teams of scientists from around the world, searching for new insights into the fundamental nature of matter, energy, and the forces that shape our universe.
The LHC has previously made groundbreaking discoveries, including the confirmation of the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle that gives mass to other particles. In its third run, the LHC will explore new energy frontiers, seeking to answer profound questions about the universe's composition and evolution. Scientists hope to gain insights into the nature of dark matter, dark energy, and the origin of cosmic inflation.
CERN's scientists and engineers have spent years preparing the LHC for this third run. Extensive upgrades and repairs have been carried out to ensure the accelerator's optimal performance. The LHC's experiments have also been upgraded, including the ATLAS and CMS detectors, which will record and analyze the vast majority of proton collisions.
The LHC's third run is expected to continue for several years, with physicists eager to uncover new discoveries that will reshape our understanding of the universe. As the world eagerly awaits the results of these groundbreaking experiments, CERN's commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge remains unwavering.
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