Final Detector in Place at the Large Hadron Collider

[Fraser]

One of the most complicated construction projects ever attempted reached a major milestone today. The final large detector element for the ATLAS instrument was lowered into the Large Hadron Collider. And this baby's big. Weighing in at 100 tonnes. When the collider finally comes online, this instrument will measure the cascade of particles generated in [...]

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[Fadingstar]

Ooooo.... can't wait! My God, it's full of stars!

[KaiYeves]

Wow. When I first heard about the LHC, I thought "Can we know that yet?"

[EndeavorRX7]

I read the article and found some disturbing comments from readers about this machine being destructive, maybe even endangering lives in France or possibly the whole world. I don't know much about the consequences or predictions of colliding particles at an extremely accelerated velocity, but is there any truth to this being a danger? I would like to think that these scientists are smart enough to not endanger our planet, but what is the worst case scenario here?

I also read somewhere that the collisions of these accelerated particles could "tear an opening in the fabric of space time, thereby allowing time travelers from the future to enter our present realm". That seems less plausible and doesn't really concern me such as my first question does. Figure I just mention it to see if others heard about this also.

[spacestart.eu]

In the worst case scenario they create a sort of big bang

[Fadingstar]

In the worst case scenario it doesn't work!
The legacy of Chernobyl or the consequences of the Manhattan Project are far worse things to worry about - but people don't - well, not so much now anyway.

[billslugg]

is there any truth to this being a danger?

No. Every day, particles slam into the upper atmosphere at energies 100's of millions of times more energetic than we can make in a collider.

[trinitree88]

No. Every day, particles slam into the upper atmosphere at energies 100's of millions of times more energetic than we can make in a collider.

Billslugg. True, and we don't monitor them too much, though we look for UHEC in some air shower arrays. So far no sign of a Higg's boson. Early tests of the LHC detectors have used algorithms searching cosmic ray secondaries to see if the mechanics are working out OK. So far, so good. Looking forward to the first runs. pete

[alainprice]

bump.

Does anyone know when the LHC is expected to run at full power?

[winensky]

No. Every day, particles slam into the upper atmosphere at energies 100's of millions of times more energetic than we can make in a collider.

Pitty we haven't the technology to hang secondary detectors in the magnetosphere and at he ozone boundry.

Kind regards
Matt

[One Skunk Todd]

Now tell me again, why are they lowering the Millenium Falcon into the LHC?

[KaiYeves]

<Cheerleader>
L!
H!
C!
Woopeee!
<Cheerleader>

[Exirus]

I hate to dredge up an old post, but I was curious.. Everyone says that particles hit our atmosphere with way more energy than that of the LHC.

But we're slamming particles together, going the same speed, how often does that happen in space?

[trinitree88]

I hate to dredge up an old post, but I was curious.. Everyone says that particles hit our atmosphere with way more energy than that of the LHC.

But we're slamming particles together, going the same speed, how often does that happen in space?

Exirus. Actually it's particles countercirculating against anti-particles at opposing speeds..(velocities). Coiuldn't say how often that happens in space...it's largely empty of baryonic matter, but has some leptonic matter zipping about. The total density is at present still being figured out. Pete.

[antoniseb]

we're slamming particles together, going the same speed, how often does that happen in space?

What Pete says below is relevant, but concerning your question about the same speed... that would depend on your frame of reference, all motion being relative and all. So the short answer is 'every time'.

[Exirus]

Thanks for the response.

[trinitree88]

Thanks for the response.

Exirus. You're welcome. Pete.

[Exirus]

What Pete says below is relevant, but concerning your question about the same speed... that would depend on your frame of reference, all motion being relative and all. So the short answer is 'every time'.

Well, to dumb it down a bit seeing how I'm stupid when it comes to this stuff, we'll say "Beam"( Just because I don't know the correct term ) .. When someone brings up the question "How do we know it's safe" And the most common response is " This happens all the time in the atmosphere " .. But I wanted to add onto that, in the LHC, there will be two beams gathering speed going round and round to reach just under the speed of light before the slam together to see the effect, now when people ask about the safety of the thing and the most common response is (see above).

I'm concerned about them slamming together going the same speed ( not one hitting a stationary target for example ) and the effect that will have? (seems worse to me)

And why does it need to be so big - I mean doesn't the RHIC, do the same thing? And everyone had the same worries then? And it's not near as big.

(Sorry for badgering, I've searched around the net looking for these answers but no one will answer)

Thanks for any response or time you put into this.

[Argos]

I would like to think that these scientists are smart enough to not endanger our planet,.

Every man-made thing that endangers our planet [I mean, the biosphere] has a scientist at the very beginning.

But no, for the LHC the risks are negligible [the scientists say].