September 10, 2008

experts comment on progress at CERN

The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva officially began operations today, with scientists successfully sending the first proton beams round the whole length of the accelerator. Leading scientists comment on the progress made so far by the biggest scientific experiment ever built.

Prof Mark Lancaster, particle physicist at University College London, said:

“It’s been a very successful morning. The detectors have actually seen activity from the proton beams. The experiment is on track to make the first collisions on schedule, at which point the data from the huge detectors will be invaluable in helping scientists understand the nature of matter. The exciting physics which the LHC will reveal requires high energies which will not be seen until 2009. The search for the Higgs particle and dark matter can then begin in earnest.”

Prof Jim al-Khalili, physicist at the University of Surrey, said:

“The worries that scientists had were nothing to do with being swallowed up by black holes and everything to do with technical hitches or electronic failure. Now, after a collective sigh of relief, the real fun starts. No matter what we find we will be unlocking the secrets of the universe. In fact when people say to me ‘won’t you be disappointed if you don’t find the Higgs particle?’ I say on the contrary – that would be even more exciting because it will mean that we have new mysteries to solve.”