What Are the Uses of Cryogenics in Large Particle Accelerators?

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SUMMARY

Cryogenics plays a critical role in large particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and Fermilab, primarily by utilizing liquid helium to achieve temperatures around 4K. This extreme cooling is essential for maintaining superconducting magnets, which are crucial for achieving high energy levels without requiring larger tunnel structures. While smaller particle accelerators may not necessitate such low temperatures, the design and requirements dictate the need for cryogenics. The primary applications of cryogenics in the LHC include creating a near-perfect vacuum and cooling equipment for electromagnets.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of superconducting magnets and their operational principles
  • Familiarity with cryogenic cooling techniques and liquid helium usage
  • Knowledge of particle accelerator design and engineering
  • Basic principles of vacuum technology in high-energy physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of superconductivity and its applications in particle physics
  • Learn about cryogenic systems and their design for large-scale experiments
  • Explore the engineering challenges of maintaining vacuum in particle accelerators
  • Investigate the differences in cooling requirements between large and small particle accelerators
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, engineers, and researchers involved in particle accelerator design, as well as anyone interested in the applications of cryogenics in high-energy physics experiments.

Mitchell316
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I do know that for large particle accelerators ( LHC, Fermilab) that the use of cryogenics is used, which is anything below -150C. LHC for example uses liquid helium to create a temperature of about 4K. For smaller particle accelerators though, let's say around 3m in diameter, is the use of cryogenics needed and if so would it need to be cooled to such an extreme temperature?
 
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It's not the size, it's the design. There are (or were) Fermilab accelerators that were large and did not require cryogenics.
 
That being said, what are the cryogenics used for on the LHC and others? Possibly to help with create the near perfect vacuum or to cool down the equipment needed to power the electromagnets?
 
The LHC magnets are superconducting, so they need to be kept cold. This helps with vacuum, to be sure, but that's not why they do it.
 
Superconducting magnets are important if you want a high energy without building even larger tunnels. The LHC needs them, small particle accelerator usually do not - it is cheaper and easier to make the ring larger.
 

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