Large Hadron Collider

In News

  • The world’s most powerful particle collider, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), will begin smashing protons into each other at unprecedented levels of energy beginning July 5.

What is Large Hadron Collider?

Machine to study particles:

  • The Large Hadron Collider is a giant, complex machine built to study particles that are the smallest known building blocks of all things.

Structure:

  •  It is a 27-km-long track-loop buried 100 metres underground on the Swiss-French border. 

Working:

  • In its operational state, it fires two beams of protons almost at the speed of light in opposite directions inside a ring of superconducting electromagnets.
  • The magnetic field created by the superconducting electromagnets keeps the protons in a tight beam and guides them along the way as they travel through beam pipes and finally collide.
  • Just prior to collision, another type of magnet is used to ‘squeeze’ the particles closer together to increase the chances of collisions. 
  • The particles are so tiny that the task of making them collide is akin to firing two needles 10 km apart with such precision that they meet halfway

Storage Requirement:

  • Since the LHC’s powerful electromagnets carry almost as much current as a bolt of lightning, they must be kept chilled. 
  • The LHC uses a distribution system of liquid helium to keep its critical components ultracold at minus 271.3 degrees Celsius, which is colder than interstellar space. 
  • Given these requirements, it is not easy to warm up or cool down the gigantic machine.

Latest upgrade

  • It will operate round-the-clock for four years at unprecedented energy levels of 13 tera electron volts.
  • It aims to deliver 1.6 billion proton-proton collisions per second” for the ATLAS and CMS experiments.
  • This time, the proton beams will be narrowed to less than 10 microns (a human hair is around 70 microns thick) to increase the collision rate.   

ATLAS:

  • ATLAS is the largest general purpose particle detector experiment at the LHC; 

CMS:

  • The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment is one of the largest international scientific collaborations in history, with the same goals as ATLAS, but which uses a different magnet-system design.  
 
Previous article Alluri Sitarama Raju
Next article Fields Medal

Other News of the Day

In News Recently, the seventh Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Bagan, Myanmar. About Lancang-Mekong Cooperation The LMC consists of six countries: China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Multilateral format: Lancang-Mekong Cooperation is a multilateral format established in 2016 for cooperation between the riparian states of the Lancang River and Mekong...
Read More

In News Recently, The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Deputy Commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district to submit its Action Taken Report (ATR) on a complaint alleging harassment and false prosecution of some Chakma villagers. About Chakmas Tribal group: Chakmas are one of the major tribes of Tripura. Chakmas are known to be...
Read More

In News Recently, Tamil Nadu has sent soil samples for a project relating to the new Parliament building. Key Points The rich cultural history of the Tamils will be featured in a project relating to the new Parliament being constructed by the Union government in New Delhi. Tamil Nadu’s first Agriculture Budget presented for 2021-22...
Read More

In News Recently, the U.K. hosted the fourth summit for Space Sustainability in London in collaboration with the Secure World Foundation.  Plan for Space Sustainability A new ‘Plan for Space Sustainability’ was announced at the summit.  This plan aims to “set a global commercial framework for the insurability, the licensing and the regulation of commercial...
Read More

In News 2nd July 2022 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Shimla Agreement between India and Pakistan. Background of the Shimla Agreement  The Shimla agreement of 1972 was more than just a peace treaty, it was the result of the India-Pakistan war of 1971 and sought to countermand the effect of such war.  The India...
Read More

In News Recently, it was found that at least 26 recommendations for appointment of judges to the Bombay High Court which is currently functioning at almost half its sanctioned strength are pending with the government at different stages of consideration. About the recent controversy The Bombay HC has a principal seat in Mumbai and benches...
Read More

In News Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated “Digital India Week 2022” and a Digital Expo at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. About Digital India Year: Launched in 2015. It is a Rs 1,13,000-crore flagship programme of the Government of India. Vision: To transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Vision Areas: Digital Infrastructure...
Read More

In News Recently, the Union Home Ministry amended certain rules related to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). Background The home ministry made the FCRA rules tougher in November 2020, making it clear that NGOs which may not be directly linked to a political party but engage in political action like bandhs, strike or road...
Read More