Key Takeaways
- Mark Thomson has been appointed as the director general of Cern, a prestigious nuclear physics laboratory.
- Thomson will oversee the shutdown of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for engineering work and its subsequent upgrade to the high-luminosity LHC.
- The high-luminosity LHC will enable more precise measurements of particles and their interactions, potentially leading to new discoveries.
- A proposed Future Circular Collider (FCC) is expected to replace the LHC, but its feasibility and funding are still being debated.
- The FCC’s success is crucial for Cern to maintain its pre-eminence in particle physics and attract researchers from around the world.
Introduction to Mark Thomson and Cern
Mark Thomson, a professor of experimental particle physics at the University of Cambridge, has been appointed as the director general of Cern, a renowned nuclear physics laboratory. Cern is home to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the largest scientific instrument ever built, which has made groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of the Higgs boson. Thomson’s appointment is a significant milestone in his career, and he is eager to take on the challenges and opportunities that come with his new role.
The Large Hadron Collider and its Upgrade
The LHC is a powerful tool that accelerates protons to nearly light speed, creating a shower of new particles that are recorded by its detectors. However, the machine will be shut down in June for engineering work, which will include the installation of powerful new superconducting magnets to squeeze the collider’s proton beams and make them brighter. This upgrade, known as the high-luminosity LHC, will raise the number of collisions in the machine tenfold, enabling more precise measurements of particles and their interactions. Thomson is excited about the potential discoveries that this upgrade could lead to, including a better understanding of the Higgs boson and its interactions.
The Future Circular Collider and its Challenges
The LHC is expected to reach the end of its life around 2041, and Cern’s member states must decide what comes next. The proposed Future Circular Collider (FCC) is a colossal machine that would be more than three times the size of the LHC, requiring a new 91km circular tunnel to be bored up to 400 meters underground. The FCC would be built in two stages, with the first phase costing an estimated 15bn Swiss francs or £14bn. However, the project faces significant challenges, including funding and the debate over whether it is the best machine for making new discoveries. Thomson’s job will be to navigate these challenges and ensure that Cern remains at the forefront of particle physics research.
The Importance of Cern and Particle Physics Research
Cern is not just a laboratory; it is a hub for international collaboration and innovation. The lab has attracted tens of thousands of researchers from around the world and has driven the development of new technologies. The success of the LHC and its successor is crucial for Cern to maintain its pre-eminence in particle physics and continue to attract top talent from around the world. Thomson is committed to ensuring that Cern remains a leader in particle physics research, and he believes that the FCC is the natural progression for the lab. However, he acknowledges that there are no guarantees of success, and the road ahead will be challenging.
Thomson’s Background and Vision
Thomson’s background is far from academic; he went to comprehensive school in Worthing, West Sussex, and got a taste for physics only after reading a popular book about science at Cern in his early teens. He became the first in his family to go to university, reading physics at Oxford. Thomson’s vision for Cern is to continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding of the universe. He believes that the FCC is a necessary step towards achieving this goal and is committed to making it a success. Despite the challenges ahead, Thomson is optimistic about the future of particle physics research and is excited to be a part of it.
Conclusion
Mark Thomson’s appointment as the director general of Cern is a significant milestone in his career, and he is eager to take on the challenges and opportunities that come with his new role. The success of the LHC and its successor, the FCC, is crucial for Cern to maintain its pre-eminence in particle physics and continue to attract top talent from around the world. Thomson is committed to ensuring that Cern remains a leader in particle physics research, and he believes that the FCC is the natural progression for the lab. Despite the challenges ahead, Thomson is optimistic about the future of particle physics research and is excited to be a part of it.