Collider in Space? LHC Possibilities Beyond Earth

In summary, building a collider like the LHC in Earth's orbit or on another planet like Mars would result in less gravity, but the costs and difficulties of building, powering, and transferring data would be much higher. Additionally, the vacuum in the LHC is better than that in the "interstellar void," making it not worth the expense. Colliders are typically built underground to shield against outer particles like cosmic rays and to save on land usage.
  • #1
Al9
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What could change if a collider like LHC would be built and made function in Earth's orbit or on another planet like Mars?
 
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  • #2
Hi Al,##\quad\quad## :welcome:

There would be less gravity.:wink:
##\mathstrut##
 
  • #3
Building it, powering it, running it and getting the data to computing centers would be much more expensive and difficult, but the particle physics would be the same.
 
  • #5
Al9 said:
What could change if a collider like LHC would be built and made function in Earth's orbit or on another planet like Mars?
The gain would be negligible (if anything) and the increase is cost would be ENORMOUS, so it's not a good idea.
 
  • #6
hmmm, what would you answer to someone who would ask you "why did we dig up 100m into the Earth to put the collider?"... we need some shielding from "outer" particles (e.g. cosmic rays)
 
  • #7
ChrisVer said:
hmmm, what would you answer to someone who would ask you "why did we dig up 100m into the Earth to put the collider?"... we need some shielding from "outer" particles (e.g. cosmic rays)
Colliders are not built underground due to cosmic rays. The opposite actually: Muons are routinely used for detector alignment. Too much shielding would be bad.
Colliders are often built underground because (a) you don't have to purchase and use all the land at the surface and (b) it shields everything else against radiation from the collisions.
 
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Likes Imager and ChrisVer

1. What is a collider in space?

A collider in space is a scientific instrument that uses high-energy particle collisions to study the fundamental building blocks of the universe. It is typically a large, circular or linear structure that accelerates particles to nearly the speed of light and then collides them together, producing new particles and energy that can be observed and studied by scientists.

2. Why would we need a collider in space?

A collider in space allows scientists to study particle collisions in a unique environment that cannot be replicated on Earth. The absence of Earth's atmosphere and gravity in space allows for higher energy collisions and the production of new particles that may not be possible to observe in a terrestrial collider. Additionally, studying these collisions in space can provide insights into the early universe and the fundamental laws of physics.

3. What is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)?

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and most powerful particle collider, located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. It consists of a 27-kilometer ring of superconducting magnets that accelerate particles to nearly the speed of light and then collide them together at four different points along the ring. The LHC has been instrumental in many groundbreaking discoveries, including the confirmation of the Higgs boson in 2012.

4. What are some potential LHC possibilities beyond Earth?

Some potential LHC possibilities beyond Earth include the search for dark matter, the study of antimatter, and the exploration of extra dimensions. The high-energy collisions produced by the LHC could also help scientists better understand the origins of the universe and the nature of gravity. Additionally, the LHC could potentially help in the development of new technologies and materials for space exploration.

5. Are there any risks associated with a collider in space?

As with any scientific instrument, there are risks associated with a collider in space. One potential risk is the production of high-energy radiation that could be harmful to astronauts and satellites in orbit. However, scientists take precautions to minimize these risks and ensure the safety of those working with and near the collider. Additionally, the benefits and potential discoveries from a collider in space far outweigh the potential risks.

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