Chillin' out at the LHC - June 13, 2008
The summer may be getting warm, but the Large Hadron Collider is cooling down.
The world's largest particle accelerator at CERN near Geneva, Switzerland, is entering the final testing phase of its superconducting magnets, which will be used to steer protons around the ring and smash them into each other at energies of up to 7TeV. In order to work, the magnets must be chilled to 1.9 Kelvin, and that requires a huge network of vacuum pumps, cryostats and electrical feedthroughs, all of which need to be made air-tight.
It's been slow going, but as you can see (right) the 32Km ring is finally approaching the requisite temperatures. Once there, each sectors' magnets will be powered up and tested further. Then it's off to the races!
If you want to follow how it's all going yourself, then check in here.
Image: CERN
Comments
But are you aware of how many professors of Math, Physics and other Theoretical sciences are protesting the lack of reasonable proof that this experiment will not destroy the planet?
Read about the first hearing in US Federal Courts in Hawaii and what opposed scientists have to say at LHCFacts.org
Posted by: JTankers | June 13, 2008 03:09 PM
JTankers:
Are you suggesting that, before we take any significant step forward in technological progress, we should verify extensively and beyond a shadow of doubt that our efforts won't bring about the apocalypse? Better by far to worry only if there is proof that it WILL cause such catastrophe...and there is no such proof. It should not be required to prove that catastrophe WON'T occur.
Typically, the only people who worry about the possibility of discovering the truth are those who make their living by selling suspicion. I have no regard whatsoever for any so-called "scientists" who would have us hold back on the abysmally unlikely chance that our meager efforts might irreparably rend the space-time fabric.
Posted by: AMRob | June 16, 2008 10:06 PM
14 billion years ago, big bang begin occurs on small matterial (coin), same as in september 2008 (coin), the big bang will be back again, whole can be destroy, TO STOP LHC!!
Posted by: adi | September 11, 2008 05:34 AM