Graphic
The Large Hadron Collider
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a particle accelerator that simulates conditions like those in the first moments after the Big Bang. Scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, use the LHC to probe subatomic particles as they try to complete their picture of the universe. Read more: Nobel Prize in physics goes to Higgs and Englert.
Particles: small, smaller and smallest
Big Bang theory: the first three minutes
Where is the Large Hadron Collider?
How does the Particle Collider work?
Inside a detector
When particles collide
Analyzing the particles
Looking for the Higgs boson
Particles: small, smaller and smallest
Big Bang theory: the first three minutes
The energy density and temperature created by collisions in the Large Hadron Collider are similar to those that existed after the Big Bang.
Where is the Large Hadron Collider?
How does the Particle Collider work?
The Large Hadron Collider consists of a 17-mile circular collider tunnel buried 300 ft. underground along with four detectors.
Inside a detector
The Compact Muon Solenoid, or CMS, is one of the four detectors.
When particles collide
Various properties of particles are measured in the layers of the detector as they fly away from collisions.
Analyzing the particles
A particle collision leaves behind specific patterns within the layers of the detector, allowing specific particles to be identified.
Looking for the Higgs boson
An image released by CERN shows traces of two high-energy photons in the Compact Muon Solenoid detector. A Higgs boson can decay into two photons, according to the Standard Model of particle physics.
