Particle collisions at the LHC

In summary, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) explores collisions between particles such as proton-proton beams and heavier nuclei like gold and lead. These collisions are used to research the quark-gluon plasma state and search for new physics, including explaining how particles acquire mass and how to unite all forces. The most common collisions at the LHC are proton bunches, made up of 2 up quarks and 1 down quark, and lead ions. The most common collision at the LHC is gluon-gluon fusion.
  • #1
Hioj
16
2
Hello everyone,

Quick question: Which particles are colliding at the LHC and why?

All I know is that proton-proton collisions are explored as well as heavier nuclei such as gold (Au) and lead (Pb) to research the quark-gluon plasma state.

-Hioj
 
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  • #2
Proton-Proton beam, sometimes heavy ion beam, in search for new physics... for example , to explain how particleacquired their mass, how can we unite all forces... how the universe was made and come to current stage...so many things
 
  • #3
Proton Bunches (Who's constituents are 2 up quarks and 1 down quark) and Lead Ions.
 
Last edited:
  • #4
The biggest cross section in the LHC is for gluon-gluon fusion
 

1. What is the LHC and why is it important?

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, located at CERN in Switzerland. It allows scientists to study the fundamental building blocks of matter by colliding particles at extremely high energies. It is important because it helps us understand the origins of the universe and the laws of physics that govern it.

2. What particles are collided at the LHC?

Protons are the main particles collided at the LHC, but heavy ions such as lead can also be collided. Protons are accelerated to nearly the speed of light and then smashed into each other, producing new particles that can give insight into the nature of matter.

3. How are particle collisions at the LHC detected?

The LHC has four main detectors - ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb - which are located around the ring of the accelerator. These detectors are massive and complex instruments that are able to track and measure the particles created in collisions. The data collected from these detectors is then analyzed by scientists to understand the results of the collisions.

4. What is the purpose of studying particle collisions at the LHC?

The main purpose of studying particle collisions at the LHC is to gain a deeper understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. By colliding particles at high energies, scientists can recreate the conditions of the early universe and study the behavior of matter at the smallest scales. This can help us answer questions about the origins of the universe, dark matter, and other mysteries of the cosmos.

5. What have been some notable discoveries from particle collisions at the LHC?

One of the most significant discoveries from the LHC is the Higgs boson, a particle that gives other particles their mass. This discovery confirmed the existence of the Higgs field, which is a crucial part of the Standard Model of particle physics. The LHC has also provided evidence for the existence of other particles such as the top quark and the W and Z bosons. Additionally, the LHC has allowed scientists to study the behavior of matter at extreme energies, leading to new insights and discoveries about the universe.

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