CERN Begins Full-Scale Tests for High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider

Geneva, Switzerland – Scientists at CERN have initiated critical full-scale tests of key components for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HiLumi LHC), a significant upgrade to the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The tests, involving a 95-meter-long test stand, mark a crucial step towards increasing the LHC’s discovery potential.

HiLumi LHC: A Leap Forward in Particle Physics

The HiLumi LHC project aims to increase the number of particle collisions by a factor of ten compared to the LHC’s original design. This increase in “luminosity” – a measure of collision frequency – will allow physicists to study known particles, like the Higgs boson, in greater detail and search for rare new phenomena that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. The upgraded collider is expected to be operational around 2030. CERN

Cryogenic Cooldown and Innovative Technologies

The current phase involves a complex cryogenic cooldown to 1.9 Kelvin (-271.3°C) of the 95-meter test stand, which replicates the underground configuration of the new equipment. This test validates the performance of the novel magnet system – specifically, the inner triplet beam-focusing magnets – and its associated infrastructure. CERN News

Several groundbreaking technologies are being implemented in the HiLumi LHC, including:

• Superconducting Crab Cavities: These tilt the particle beams before collision to increase the interaction rate.
• Crystal Collimators: Designed to remove errant particles and protect the accelerator components.
• High-Temperature Superconducting Electrical Transfer Lines: These will power the HiLumi magnets more efficiently.

The inner triplet magnets utilize a superconducting compound of niobium and tin (Nb3Sn), enabling stronger magnetic fields than the current niobium-titanium (NbTi) magnets used in the LHC.

Extensive Upgrade and Collaboration

The HiLumi LHC project is a massive undertaking, requiring the replacement of 1.2 kilometers of the existing LHC infrastructure. Installation work will primarily take place during a long shutdown period beginning in mid-2026. CERN

The ATLAS and CMS experiments, the two general-purpose detectors at the LHC, are also undergoing major upgrades to handle the increased collision rate and maximize the scientific return. This work involves close collaboration with hundreds of institutes worldwide.

Looking Ahead

“I don’t think it is possible to overstate the importance and excitement of the High-Luminosity LHC,” said Mark Thomson, CERN Director-General. “Coupled with advanced new data tools and upgraded detectors, it will allow us to understand, for the first time, how the Higgs boson interacts with itself – a key measurement that will shed light on the first instants and possible fate of the universe.” CERN News

The HiLumi LHC promises to usher in a new era of discovery in high-energy physics, potentially revealing new insights into the fundamental laws of nature and the origins of the universe.