CERN and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

Introduction to CERN

• CERN: European Organization for Nuclear Research
• Location: Home to half of the world's particle physicists
• Significance: Hosts the largest particle-hunting machine in the world

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

• Structure: Features a nearly 17-mile loop
• Function: Sends two beams of protons hurling around the loop before smashing them together
• Purpose: To create subatomic particles by recreating conditions that existed just after the Big Bang

The Big Bang

• Description: An explosion at the beginning of the universe when all matter was created
• Timeline:
  • Year zero marks the beginning of the universe
  • Universe expanded and cooled over time, dispersing energy
  • Today marks 14 billion years since the Big Bang

Formation of Celestial Bodies

• Sun Formation: Occurred 9 billion years ago
• First Stars: Formed over 8 billion years before the Sun

LHC's Role in Understanding the Universe

• Objective: To explore conditions that existed in the millionths of a second after the Big Bang
• Method: Acts like a time machine, examining high energy density conditions

Outcome of Collisions

• Energy Conversion: Energy at collision points is converted into mass, forming thousands of particles
• Discovery Potential:
  • Many particles are already known
  • Hope to discover new particles
  • Aim to explain mysteries of universe formation

Conclusion

• Overall Goal: Understanding fundamental building blocks of the universe and the conditions immediately following the Big Bang.