A decade ago, the world’s largest particle collider made history by discovering the Higgs boson particle, which could pave the way for how the universe was born, earning it the nickname the “God particle.” After a three-year delay for certain upgrades and functions, the accelerator is collecting data again. Its goal this time is to prove the existence of another plausible and mysterious substance — dark matter.
Many scientists believe dark matter is real but haven’t been able to see or create it. “If we can figure out the properties of dark matter, we learn what our galaxy is made of,” said Joshua Ruderman, a professor of physics at New York University. “It would be transformative.” Dark matter has captured the attention of physicists since astronomer Fritz Zwicky proved it in 1933. It is widely believed by scientists to make up a greater part of the universe as all the known matter in the galaxy, such as planets and stars, only account for 5 percent of the total mass in the universe. Scientists believe roughly 27 percent of the universe is composed of dark matter. Since Dark Matter does not reflect or produce light, it is tough to detect. Researchers have proven its existence because of its gravitational pull-on objects and how it bends light.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research built the Large Hadron Collider to help solve the burning questions of particle physics. The machine is located 328 feet in a tunnel near the French-Swiss border. Its circumference spans about 17 miles. Superconducting magnets inside the conductor are cooled to negative 456 degrees Fahrenheit while two particle beams traveling around the speed of light are set to collide against each other.
Using advanced sensors, scientists analyze the substances made from the collision, replicating certain aspects like the Big Bang and allowing them to observe the universe’s beginning. After three years of downtime and numerous upgrades, the accelerator can run at 13.6 trillion electron volts. This could allow scientists to test new theories and go beyond previous boundaries. Mike Lamont, CERN’s director for accelerators and technology, commented: “[this could] pave the way for new discoveries.”
CERN researchers turn on Large Hadron Collider in dark matter quest ….
Link:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/08/cern-particle-accelerator/
Many scientists believe dark matter is real but haven’t been able to see or create it. “If we can figure out the properties of dark matter, we learn what our galaxy is made of,” said Joshua Ruderman, a professor of physics at New York University. “It would be transformative.” Dark matter has captured the attention of physicists since astronomer Fritz Zwicky proved it in 1933. It is widely believed by scientists to make up a greater part of the universe as all the known matter in the galaxy, such as planets and stars, only account for 5 percent of the total mass in the universe. Scientists believe roughly 27 percent of the universe is composed of dark matter. Since Dark Matter does not reflect or produce light, it is tough to detect. Researchers have proven its existence because of its gravitational pull-on objects and how it bends light.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research built the Large Hadron Collider to help solve the burning questions of particle physics. The machine is located 328 feet in a tunnel near the French-Swiss border. Its circumference spans about 17 miles. Superconducting magnets inside the conductor are cooled to negative 456 degrees Fahrenheit while two particle beams traveling around the speed of light are set to collide against each other.
Using advanced sensors, scientists analyze the substances made from the collision, replicating certain aspects like the Big Bang and allowing them to observe the universe’s beginning. After three years of downtime and numerous upgrades, the accelerator can run at 13.6 trillion electron volts. This could allow scientists to test new theories and go beyond previous boundaries. Mike Lamont, CERN’s director for accelerators and technology, commented: “[this could] pave the way for new discoveries.”
CERN researchers turn on Large Hadron Collider in dark matter quest ….
Link:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/07/08/cern-particle-accelerator/
