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LHC Repairs To Cost $21 Million

Posted on: Monday, 17 November 2008, 11:40 CST

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) reported on Monday that it will cost about 25 million francs, or $21 million, in order to make critical repairs on the world’s largest atom smasher.

The Large Hadron Collider was forced to shutdown prematurely just nine days after it started conducting experiments intended to recreate conditions that occurred immediately after the “Big Bang”, which cosmologists believe is at the origin of our expanding universe.

Officials initially estimated that the LHC would be repaired and ready to resume activity by spring 2009, however Spokesman James Gillies said CERN is now estimating the restart will be at the end of June or later.

"If we can do it sooner, all well and good. But I think we can do it realistically (in) early summer," he said.

The shutdown was caused by a helium leak due to a faulty electrical connection between two of the accelerator’s magnets.

The massive electromagnets deep underground appeared to have escaped damage, but damage to insulation and other parts around 29 of the magnets will likely require that they be brought to the surface for repair, Gillies told reporters in October.

It takes a month to warm the collider gradually to room temperature from its operating temperature at near absolute zero, colder than outer space. Once the repairs are made, it will take another month to recool it.

The cost of the work will fall within the organization's existing budget, Gillies said.

Scientists have taken the setback in stride, saying that particle colliders always have such problems in the startup phase.

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On the Net:

• Large Hadron Collider (CERN)

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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