CERN Collider Set for Major Upgrade
Subject: Science & Technology
Why in News?
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is entering its Third Long Shutdown (LS3) for an upgrade into the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), aimed at increasing collision rates and improving the search for rare particles and new physics.
About CERN
CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) is the world’s leading particle physics laboratory.
Established
- 1954
Location
- France–Switzerland border (near Geneva)
Members
- 23 Member States
- 10 Associate Member States
- India is an Associate Member.
Principle
- CERN’s convention states that its research shall have no military applications.
What is Particle Physics?
Particle Physics is the branch of physics that studies:
- Fundamental particles of matter (such as quarks and leptons)
- Fundamental forces of nature (except gravity)
Objective
To understand:
- The building blocks of the universe
- Origin of matter
- Conditions immediately after the Big Bang
- Fundamental laws governing the universe
Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
The LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
Key Features
- 27-km circular underground collider
- Located about 100 metres below the surface
- Accelerates protons to 6.8 TeV per beam
- Particles travel close to the speed of light before collision.
Purpose
- Recreate conditions that existed just after the Big Bang.
- Study the fundamental structure of matter.
- Search for new particles and forces.
ALICE Experiment
ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is one of the major detectors at the LHC.
Role
- Studies heavy-ion collisions.
- Examines collision debris.
- Investigates matter under extremely high temperatures and densities.
- Helps understand the quark-gluon plasma.
High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC)
Purpose of Upgrade
The HL-LHC will:
- Increase collision rate (luminosity) by nearly five times.
- Generate much larger datasets.
- Improve the chances of detecting extremely rare particles.
Important Point
- Collision energy will remain unchanged.
- Only the number of collisions will increase.
Major Achievements of the LHC
1. Discovery of Higgs Boson (2012)
- Confirmed the mechanism through which elementary particles acquire mass.
2. Validation of the Standard Model
- Verified predictions of particle physics with remarkable precision.
3. Discovery of New Hadrons
- Confirmed around 80 new hadrons formed by different combinations of quarks.
4. Quark-Gluon Plasma
- Successfully recreated the extremely hot state of matter that existed shortly after the Big Bang.
5. Matter–Antimatter Studies
- Improved understanding of the imbalance between matter and antimatter.
6. Contributions to Astrophysics
- Produced valuable data relevant to cosmology and the early universe.
Unanswered Questions
Despite its success, the LHC has not yet detected:
- Dark Matter
- Dark Energy
- Physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM)
Key Concepts
Dark Matter
- Invisible matter that neither emits nor reflects light.
- Detected through its gravitational effects.
- Makes up about 27% of the universe.
Dark Energy
- Hypothetical energy causing the accelerated expansion of the universe.
- Accounts for nearly 68% of the universe.
Visible (ordinary) matter constitutes only about 5% of the universe.
Physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM)
Refers to theories explaining phenomena not covered by the Standard Model, including:
- Dark matter
- Dark energy
- Quantum gravity
- Neutrino masses
- Matter–antimatter asymmetry
Future Circular Collider (FCC)
CERN has proposed the Future Circular Collider (FCC) as the successor to the LHC.
Features
- Proposed 91-km circular collider
- Estimated cost: ~US$19 billion
- Final construction decision expected around 2028
- A future 100 TeV proton collider could be developed in the 2070s.
Debate
Some physicists argue that the FCC may mainly improve measurement precision rather than produce major scientific breakthroughs, raising questions about its cost-effectiveness.
India and CERN
India has collaborated with CERN since the 1960s.
India’s Contributions
- Detector development
- Computing infrastructure
- Scientific research
- Engineering support
Experts recommend increasing participation of Indian industries in designing and manufacturing components for future CERN projects.
Mains Question
Q. Discuss the significance of CERN and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in advancing our understanding of the universe. Why is the search for physics beyond the Standard Model important?
