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LHC Achieves World Energy Record

Posted on: Monday, 30 November 2009, 10:20 CST

The "Big Bang" test at CERN in Switzerland achieved a world record Monday when beams were increased to the highest energy ever attained in a particle collider, the research center declared.

Researchers at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, said the accomplishment was a huge milestone for the future progress of what they hope will reveal clues to the creation of the universe.

The triumph emerged 10 days after the world’s biggest scientific experiment was resumed following a mishap in September 2008.

"We are still coming to terms with just how smooth the LHC commissioning is going," said CERN Director General Rolf Heuer to reporters. "It is fantastic."

The beam energy was achieved in the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), a large unit constructed of magnets, electronics and computers. It still has a way to go before the genuine "Big Bang" experiments can commence.

The goal of the experiments is to crash particles at 7 TeV and recreate the conditions of the Big Bang theory.

Information collected after the collisions will be confirmed and reviewed by 10,000 researchers from different 30 countries.

Scientists wish to determine how anti-matter was formed and if the "Higgs Boson" concept is a scientifically viable idea.

Regardless of the swift development of the project since November 20, leaders remain guarded about the progress.

Heuer noted that "we are continuing to take it step by step, and there is a lot to do before we start physics in 2010. I'm keeping my champagne on ice until then."

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On the Net:

• CERN
• Large Hadron Collider

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

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