Now. THAT is what I call physics!

I had the incredible luck last week of being able to have a private tour of the CMS experiment at the CERN, near Geneva. The experiment, is located 100m underground, is 21 metres long and 16 metres in diameter and weighs approximately 12,500 tonnes...

It is a particle physics experiment designed to discover the "Higgs boson". Particle physics doesn't mean it's small. It would more likely be the opposite... As they are closing the tunnel to start experimenting at the end of the week, and as once it is working, no one can enter the site of the experimentation for 6 months after stopping due to the radioactivity, it was an amazing opportunity.

More info on the experiment: http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Compact_Muon_So​lenoid

And on the CERN:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/CERN

And now, some pictures!


#1

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what an interesting tour! Shot #2 is very cool.

Impressive. One of my brother-in-law's friends is a physicist, and he has been involved in some underground tests, although nothing similar to what you're showing us. They are trying to capture sub-atomic particles that penetrate thousands of feet into the earth. Apparently the working conditions are quite primitive and uncomfortable.

Permagrin wrote in post #5909008
what an interesting tour! Shot #2 is very cool.

Thanks Lisa. #2 really gives a scale. Everything is so huge. Being down there is really impressive.

belmondo wrote in post #5909013
Impressive. One of my brother-in-law's friends is a physicist, and he has been involved in some underground tests, although nothing similar to what you're showing us. They are trying to capture sub-atomic particles that penetrate thousands of feet into the earth. Apparently the working conditions are quite primitive and uncomfortable.

Here, they're playing with incredible amounts of energy. The accelerator is a 27km (17mi) loop. The technology needed to achieve such things is just mind-boggling...

and working conditions aren't very easy either...

Lucky man.

Very interesting! I like #'s 4 and 5, it shows how large the equipment is with the people as scale comparison. All those gadgets makes my computer build project anemic

belmondo wrote in post #5909013
They are trying to capture sub-atomic particles that penetrate thousands of feet into the earth.......

Neutrinos?

BottomBracket wrote in post #5909661
Very interesting! I like #'s 4 and 5, it shows how large the equipment is with the people as scale comparison. All those gadgets makes my computer build project anemic

Neutrinos?

Could be. He probably told me, but I wouldn't have comprehended what he was saying at the time, much less retained any of it.

BottomBracket wrote in post #5909661
Very interesting! I like #'s 4 and 5, it shows how large the equipment is with the people as scale comparison. All those gadgets makes my computer build project anemic

Thanks Pio!

And it must be noted that physicists have some humor as well

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Hahaha! Perhaps the next thing you'll be showing us is a physicist holding up a sign that says "Will Split Atoms For Food"

BottomBracket wrote in post #5909827
Hahaha! Perhaps the next thing you'll be showing us is a physicist holding up a sign that says "Will Split Atoms For Food"

No, but I have other signs...

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Lol, those are hilarious!

This was displayed in my office for a while. (in my old, law and order days).

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belmondo wrote in post #5909908
This was displayed in my office for a while. (in my old, law and order days).

What is REALLY scary, is to know that you have it now for real

Not scary at all.....


I'm a benevolent dictator. Everyone gets a second chance (expect for spammers, of course).