Physicists set a new record at the LHC two weeks earlier

Physicists working at the Large Hadron Collider were able to achieve the goal set after launch a half month ahead of schedule – to increase the luminosity of the accelerator to 10 to 32 degrees of particles per second per square centimeter by the end of 2010, said Rolf Hoyer, director of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Launched after a year-long hiatus on November 20, 2009, the Large Hadron Collider is the largest particle accelerator in history. In its 27-kilometer ring, proton beams accelerated almost to the speed of light collide. By studying the results of these collisions, scientists hope to obtain new data on the structure of matter. The higher the luminosity – the number of protons per unit cross-section of the beam – the more collisions of particles occur and the faster scientists can obtain new scientific data.

At the end of March, after the completion of a somewhat protracted Christmas technological break, scientists began full-fledged operation of the accelerator. Hoyer recalled that then physicists set themselves the task of bringing the luminosity to 10 to 32 degrees by the end of 2010.

“We achieved this goal last night. The beams that were launched into the accelerator at about 02.00 (4.00 Moscow time) collided with a luminosity of 1.01 by 10 to the 32nd power, recorded at 03.38 by two detectors ATLAS and CMS. It is a significant achievement for everyone involved to reach such an important milestone more than two weeks ahead of schedule, ”said Hoyer, quoted by CERN.

According to him, this session of work gave the detectors an integrated (accumulated) luminosity of more than two reverse picobarns by Thursday noon. Scientists believe that in order to be able to draw conclusions about the existence of the Higgs boson, the collider must collect at least about 10-20 reverse femtobarns (1000 picobarns). By the end of 2012, the collider is expected to gain a luminosity of one reverse femtobarn, Hoyer recalled. “The significance of this achievement cannot be underestimated as it is a necessary step towards greater goals,” added the head of the organization.

The time “saved” by scientists will be devoted, in particular, to preparation for experiments with lead ions, which will begin in November. RIA News”