LHC@home

Hi, Im an avid enthusiats when it comes to science, and chemistry. My curiousity is this, with the collider and considering the documentation that I have read so far. The attention I would like to ask is this: As stated you were using proton TeV, now with this in mind, can you use another proton instead of TeV. And a finally note to the LHC, I thank you with all my heart for allowing me to be a part of something that I have been wanting for years.... thanks very very much....

For any personal responses, you may email me at the following address... thanks again...

johnson6@csicable.net

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Hi Richard,

TeV is short for Tera electron Volt. Electron Volt is a measure of energy, it is the amount of energy an electron gets when it is accelerated by a potential of 1 Volt. Tera is a greek prefix that is used in the metric system to mean 1000000000000. It is much easier to talk about 5.72 TeV than having to say 5720000000000 each time.

In the accelerator we use two beams of protons going in opposite directions around the ring. Each beam, which is actually more like a small cloud of protons, runs in its own little tube about 20 cm apart. When the protons have reached the desired energy the beams are bent by magnets so that they collide inside the detectors.

Hope this cleared up how it works, otherwise you are welcome to ask more questions.

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Chrulle
Research Assistant & Ex-LHC@home developer
Niels Bohr Institute