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Initially, the protons are accelerated to very high velocities via a linear accelerator that feeds into the LHC. This is done simply by sectioning off the accelerator into different voltage "compartments" causing the protons to speed up as they reach each one of these "compartments" that have different voltages applied across them.

Once they enter the LHC, they encounter a multitude of superconducting dipole magnets, each one being tuned to have a bit stronger magnetic field than the last. The protons hit these magnetic fields and bend around a circular ring according to the Lorentz force, F = q(v X B), where v is the velocity vector of the protons, q is their charge, and Bis the applied magnetic field vector. The X in the middle of the v and B variables signifies the vector cross product, and is equal to the magnitudes of the proton's velocity and the applied magnetic field multiplied by the sine of the angle between them, or vBsin(θ), where θ is the angle between the v and B vectors. To make life easy, this angle is usually designed to be 90o, meaning that sin(θ) equals 1.

Additionally, the cross product tells you that the force is going to be in a direction found by using the "right-hand rule." That means that if you point your right hand in the direction of the proton's velocity and then curl your fingers in the direction of the applied magnetic field, your extended thumb points in the direction of the force. And, you guessed it, to keep the protons moving around a horizontal ring, the magnetic field must be pointing upwards (go ahead and test that out using the right-hand rule).

As the magnetic fields increase, the force on the protons increase, thereby increasing velocity. To keep the protons within the ring, as opposed to having them just collide with the wall, the magnetic field needs to be increased to compensate for the increased velocity. This, however, effectually increases the force once again, and therefore the proton's velocity once again, meaning that an even stronger magnetic field needs to be applied once again to compensate. This procedure of compensating for increased velocity with increased magnetic fields, which occurs thousands of times, is called "tuning the beam," and let me tell you, it's an art.

Eventually, the incremental increases of the proton's velocity, due to the relativistic law that a particle with mass can't travel faster than the speed of light, become so minor that the magnets can all hold a more or less steady field (adjusting for synchrotron radiation of course) while the protons continue to zip around the ring.

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What is the particle in the hadron collider?

The Large Hadron Collider will work mainly with protons - hence the name (the proton is a kind of hadron). It will also do some experiments with other particles, for example, with certain atomic nuclei.


What proton has the hightest energy?

The proton with the highest energy is typically found in high-energy particle accelerators or cosmic ray events. In these contexts, protons can reach energies exceeding several trillion electronvolts (TeV). For instance, protons in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) can achieve energies around 6.5 TeV per beam. Additionally, cosmic rays can produce protons with energies over 10^20 electronvolts (eV), making them some of the highest energy protons observed.


How a hadron collider works?

CERN is an organisational headquaters of scientists, based in Switzerland, which houses a large hadron collider (the LHC). By smashing particles together at great speed, it's hoped that the LHC will be able to recreate the conditions present at the beginning of the universe (the big bang). The scientists are examining the microscopic collisions, which are created by shooting atoms around the huge tunnels of the LHC. Please also see this article for further easy to understand information about CERN: http://scientificinquiry.suite101.com/article.cfm/cern_the_big_bang_machine


What is reverse chronological causation and how does it relate to the Large Hadron Collider?

I am only answering this question because the concept is absurd and therefore amusing. You are referring to the idea presented (purely in jest, I think) that the LHC succeeds in creating a particle (the so-called "God particle") so abhorrent that a causal path from the future is created to prevent the LHC from doing this. A couple of problems here: If the LHC creates the particle, then it wasn't prevented from doing so. If it does not, then it does not, and no one need resort to time-travelling in order to explain it. Look, the LHC has had malfunctions created entirely by design flaws (Remember those? They're man-made, just like the LHC itself.) It's important to remember that people build things, and if they're as complicated as the LHC is, there is no need for nature to send back "screw-it up" particles from the future. We are perfectly capable of screwing stuff up ourselves. As evidence, I offer the fact that they recently found a piece of a baguette in an LHC magnet. Particle from the future or someone on their lunch break?


Is a particle accelerator used to accelerate particles at high speeds until the particles fuse together and create a new elements?

Not exactly.Accelerate particles to high speeds: yes.Create new elements: it is not new elements, but new particles that are created.Fuse together: this is not so much about particles fusing together; rather, the new particles are created from the energy of the impact. Remember that every energy has a mass equivalent. For example, the LHC is planned to increase its energy to 6.5 TeV per beam, meaning that two particles - two protons for example - will collide at a combined energy of 13 TeV. This corresponds to a mass of about 14,000 protons. This makes it possible to create new particles, including particles that are quite massive.

Related Questions

Why can an electron not be accelerated by a cyclotron?

I think it is because they do not carry a charge. They are neutrons therefore they are neutrons. The LHC can accelerate protons because they carry a positive charge, for example. The LHC uses magnetic fields to accelerate particles, which will have no effect on neutrally charged particles.


What is used to accelerate protons?

In particle accelerators, such as cyclotrons or linear accelerators, electric fields are used to accelerate protons. By applying alternating electric fields that switch polarity at the right time, protons are pushed to higher speeds within the accelerator.


How can you use collide in a sentence?

LHC will collide protons into protons at a center of mass energy of about 14 TeV


How much energy does the large hadron collider produce?

That's a good question. Even the scientists at the LHC aren't sure. But generally, the protons produced in the hydrogen tanks (the tanks produce the beams that are shot at 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999% and so on of the speed of light) when in collision make a tremendous amount of power. But actually storing the power in A. dangerous B. very difficult. Hopefully with all of the power the collider sonsumes, CERN should find a way to give a little back...............................eventually anyway.


What is The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) used for?

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is used to accelerate and collide particles at high energy levels to study the fundamental building blocks of matter. Scientists use the LHC to explore questions about the universe, such as the existence of dark matter and the nature of the Higgs boson. The data collected from these collisions helps to advance our understanding of particle physics and the fundamental forces of nature.


When will the Large Hadron Collider begin operation?

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) completed a test run by circulating protons late in 2008. But it down now because of a fault with a pair of the superconducting magnets that resulted in some damage. It is expected (hoped) that the LHC will be back online later (September) in 2009. Stay tuned. A link to particulars on the LHC can be found below. It is updated fairly regularly, too.


When was LHC Les Lions created?

LHC Les Lions was created in 1997.


What is the symbol for LHC Group in NASDAQ?

The symbol for LHC Group in NASDAQ is: LHCG.


What is the particle in the hadron collider?

The Large Hadron Collider will work mainly with protons - hence the name (the proton is a kind of hadron). It will also do some experiments with other particles, for example, with certain atomic nuclei.


In what year did LHC Group - LHCG - have its IPO?

LHC Group (LHCG) had its IPO in 2005.


What is going on in LHC now?

As of October 30, 2009 particles are back in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). To get periodic updates on the LHC in the form of videos go to http:/public.web.cern.ch/public


What is the market cap for LHC Group LHCG?

As of July 2014, the market cap for LHC Group (LHCG) is $384,713,343.00.