LHC Essay

The Large Hadron Collider: A Marvel of Science and
Engineering
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. It was built
by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) between 1998 and 2008 in collaboration
with over 10,000 scientists and hundreds of universities and laboratories, as well as more than 100
countries. It lies in a tunnel 27 kilometres in circumference which is at a depth of 175 metres beneath
the France–Switzerland border near the city of Geneva.
The LHC's goal is to allow physicists to test the predictions of different theories of particle physics,
including measuring the properties of the Higgs boson, searching for new particles predicted by and
other unresolved questions in particle physics.
How does the LHC work?
The LHC primarily collides proton beams, but it can also accelerate beams of heavier ions such as lead.
The LHC consists of a ring of superconducting magnets with a number of accelerating structures to boost
the energy of the particles along the way. Inside the accelerator, two high-energy particle beams travel
at close to the speed of light before they are made to collide. The beams travel in opposite directions in
separate pipes which are kept at ultrahigh vacuum. They are guided around the accelerator ring by a
strong magnetic field maintained by superconducting electromagnets. The electromagnets are built
from coils of special electric cable that operates in a superconducting state, efficiently conducting
electricity without resistance or loss of energy. This requires lowering the temperature of the magnets
to ‑271.3°C – a temperature colder than outer space. For this reason, much of the accelerator is
connected to a distribution system of liquid helium, which coo the magnets, as well as other important
devices.
Thousands of magnets of different varieties and sizes are used to direct the beams around the
accelerator. These include nearly 1200 dipole magnets, 15 metres in length, which bend the beams, and
400 quadrupole magnets, each 5–7 metres long, which focus the beams. Just prior to collision, another
type of magnet is used to bring the particles closer together to increase the chances of collisions. Since
the particles are very small in size (about 0.001 Picometers), this task requires very high precision.
All the controls for the accelerator, its services and technical infrastructure are housed under one roof at
the CERN Control Centre. From here, a team of scientists and particle physicists conduct various
experiments.
What has the LHC achieved so far?
The LHC first started up on 10 September 2008, but suffered a serious malfunction nine days later. After
repairs and safety checks, it resumed operation on 20 November 2009. The first collisions were achieved
in 2010 at an energy of 3.5 teraelectronvolts (TeV) per beam, about four times the previous world
record.
The discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC was announced in 2012. The Higgs boson is a fundamental
particle that gives mass to other particles through its interaction with a field that pervades space. Its
existence was predicted by Peter Higgs and others in 1964 as part of the Standard Model of particle
physics, but it took decades of experimental efforts to confirm it.
Between 2013 and 2015, the LHC was shut down and upgraded; after those upgrades it reached 6.8 TeV
per beam (13.6 TeV total collision energy). At this higher energy, physicists hope to explore new
phenomena beyond imagination. The LHC also produces unprecedented amounts of data that require
advanced computing and analysis techniques to process and interpret.
At the end of 2018, the LHC was shut down for three years for further upgrades. The next phase of
operation, called Run 3, has started and is expected to last till late 2024. The LHC will then undergo
another long shutdown for major improvements, such as installing new magnets and increasing the
luminosity (the number of collisions per second). The ultimate goal is to reach the energy of 7 TeV per
beam (14 TeV total collision energy) and a luminosity of 1 × 10^34/ (cm^2⋅s) by 2027. This phase, called
the High-Luminosity LHC will extend the LHC's scientific capabilities and enable more precise
measurements and discoveries.
Why is the LHC important?

The LHC is a feat of science and engineering. It pushes the boundaries of human knowledge and
technology. It allows us to explore the fundamental nature of matter and energy, and to test our
understanding of the laws of physics. The LHC has generated many benefits for society, such as
advancing scientific education, developing innovative technologies and applications, and stimulating
economic growth and development. The LHC is not only a machine, but a symbol of human endeavor
and achievement.

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The Large Hadron Collider: A Marvel of Science and

How does the LHC work?

What has the LHC achieved so far?

Why is the LHC important?

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