Date set to fire up world's most-powerful particle accelerator

A date has finally been announced for the switching on of the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider.

Here is the superconducting radio-frequency cavity in the LHC tunnel.

(Credit: Maximilien Brice/CERN)

The LHC is located in a nearly 17-mile-long circular tunnel that lies beneath the French-Swiss border. The first attempt to circulate a beam of particles around the tunnel will take place on September 10, according to a statement Thursday by the LHC's builders, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN.

This event will follow a long commissioning process that has seen the structure cooled down to 1.9 degrees above absolute zero (-27 degrees Celsius).

"We're finishing a marathon with a sprint," LHC project leader Lyn Evans said. "It's been a long haul, and we're all eager to get the LHC research program under way."

The particle accelerator was designed primarily as an attempt to produce the "Higgs boson"--a hypothetical particle whose observation would help confirm some of the predictions in the Standard Model of physics. Other currently theoretical particles may also be observed for the first time, including microscopic black holes--some people have theorized that this side of the project could go wrong with Earth-threatening results, a fear that CERN has comprehensively and repeatedly denied.

This weekend, the first synchronization test between the LHC and another machine, the Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator, will take place. A second test will take place in the coming weeks. According to CERN, the timing between the two machines "has to be accurate to within a fraction of a nanosecond."

If successful, the LHC will produce beams that are seven times more energetic than any previous particle accelerator. By 2010, CERN hopes to have the machine producing beams that are even more intense, at around 30 times the energy of previous machines.

David Meyer of ZDNet UK reported from London.

[Check_Your_Conversion]

Absolute zero is roughly -273 C, not roughly -29C (because, if it was, being from the far North, I'd be dead!). Thus, you probably meant to say that the structure would be cooled to roughly -271C, not -27C!

[pswired]

I believe a "3" is missing from your figure for absolute zero...

-273 degrees C.

[satayboy]

So what's the date? Just want to know when the world is going to end. :-)

[JunkSiu]

Sept. 10, 2008 according to the article.

[awgreenblatt]

There's a minor typo in the article. 1.9 degrees above absolute zero would be around -271 degrees Celsius, not -27 as reported.

[feonil]

September 10th, 2008

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-08/and-we%E2%80%99re

[FS1982!]

I don't think it would be possible for the world to end from this. As for the black hole theory/inverted earth theory are people serious? Do you even know how black holes are formed? Do a little research before holding up cutting edge science with ridiculous claims. Hah funny thing is if I and the scientists are wrong nobody would be able to tell me I told you so! Can't wait for Sept 10.

[MadLyb]

Yes, they know how they are formed. Elitist much?

Even the researchers who have come out saying nothing will happen admit that most of the position on both sides is based upon theories that will be validated by the work of this facility and that there is a possibility that something could happen though the chances are very remotes.

One good example is one of the foundations for there being no concern of a stable black hole developing is based upon the work of Hawking in 1974, yet in the 34 years since he published his theory, no has found physical evidence to confirm this and that the actual work of the collider will help confirm this theory.

So, the chances are slim, but not non-existent and considering how many surprises we have stumbled onto in the world of Quantum Mechanics, I would keep a more open mind.

[Dalkorian]

September 10, 2008: It's the end of the world as we know it ... and I feel fine!
;-)

[avanburen]

September 10, 2008 and we will all be gone by September 11, 2008. It's a plot by the Bush administration I tell you!

[JTankers]

Abstract below from Dr. Rossler's plea to the world, copy available at LHCFacts.org.

"A nightmarish situation, that can still be hoped to be averted in time through communication within the scientific community, is drawn attention to. Only a few weeks remain to find out whether the danger is real or nothing but a mirage. After this time window is closed, it will take years until we know whether or not we are doomed. The story line has all the features of a best-selling novel. The reader is asked to contribute constructively."

Quote from Dr. Otto E. Rossler, Professor Theoretical Biochemist, visiting Professor of Theoretical Physics, inventor of the Rossler Attractor, founder of Endophysics, winner of the 2003 Chaos Award of the University of Liege and the 2003 Rene Descartes Award.

[batvette]

IIRC, as JTankers' above post alludes, the researchers/builders themselves did confirm the slight possibility of the black hole creation theory, so to insultingly suggest others "do a little research" leaves someone's own knowledge suspect. What they did say was that even if it DID happen, it would be on a scale so small it would take many years to grow to a size where damage could become realized. While I believe that, it is of no small discomfort to remember the early experimenters of the X-Ray, such as Thomas Edison's lab assistant, whose arms became cancerous and he died shortly afterward from countless shots taken. The pictures I saw in a friend's radiography license instruction textbook were quite grusome, and it does indicate the propensity for scientists to risk their own safety in quest of the next great achievement.

[boris_eats_black_holes]

What we need to ask is why is so much time and money spent on this experiment, is only leading to the unknown possibility that our world could end? What would be the point of conducting this when we would have no idea if it would really work, or give us answers into why were are here on earth?, we dont need to know why we're here, and we dont need to know what happeneds when we die, because knowing these things could end in the lack of faith. If it was proven that god didnt create this univerise and our exsistance, then there would be no hope, in heaven, re-incarnation etc, even if you dont believe in any of these things, its enough that there not proven to be wrong. So ask yourself, if you were diagnoised with cancer and told you only had a week to live, would you want to know you would be rotting in a box in 7 days. My point on this matter is there are some things better left unknown. Maybe spending them 20 years and 9 billion dollars on studies, and experiments that are "going to help us us" find the cure of cancer or other terminal illnesses would be more worth while. Do we need need to take the chance of destroying our univerise for un-necessary facts, when we wouldnt even be here to know what happened, and if we were our faith would be destroyed anyway.. what good is this really going to do? Clearly with their knowledge and this sort of money, REAL problems could be solved.

[dulal_chandra_dey]

this is a nice step towards victory of mankind over the nature.everything in this universe are opened for invention and discovery.may be your works will be monitored by the cosmic citizen who are more powerfull and intelligent than us but no harm done by them in this experiments.because they are saving us from contineous attacks which coming to our planet earth.the universe is divided into various area dominated by giant stars and black holes .blackhole is the symble of creation and destruction while giant stars are acting as like as our heart.but the sole is dominating(what you are looking through LHC) all over the universe which is absolutely invisible.somebody try to find it but they found themselves only.the life is created for circulation,attraction and for motion and this is divided into two parts as male and female for this attraction and circulation power.circulation attraction and motion is the main tune of the universe for which death is inevitable followed by birth.otherwise there is no necessity of black hole in the universe.whole life is governing by circular motion and attraction.better research with circular motion and attraction for origin of life sure you will be successful.if you are interested i can supply more information about universe but i m not a scientist.thank you very much.pardon me if i disturb you.