Large Hadron Collider to Shut Down for Major Upgrades
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is entering its third major shutdown period to undergo significant upgrades. The planned hiatus will involve installing new detectors and acceleration systems aimed at achieving higher collision energies. Scientists hope the upgrades will improve sensitivity and enable the detection of rare events, potentially including dark matter particles.
- This third major shutdown, designated Long Shutdown 3 (LS3), is scheduled to begin in July 2026. The upgraded machine, officially named the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), is projected to start its first physics run in June 2030. - The primary goal of the upgrade is to increase the machine's "luminosity" by a factor of 10, which will raise the number of particle collisions from around 60 to as high as 200 each time particle bunches meet. This will allow the machine to produce at least 15 million Higgs bosons annually, a significant increase from the roughly three million produced in 2017. - The project is a major international collaboration involving nearly 50 institutions across more than 20 countries. U.S. national laboratories, including Fermilab, Brookhaven, and Lawrence Berkeley, are leading the American contribution by developing and building critical components like advanced superconducting magnets. - A cost-benefit analysis of the High-Luminosity upgrade estimates that for every Swiss franc invested, society receives approximately 1.8 francs in return. These economic benefits are attributed to industrial spillovers, the development of new technologies with commercial applications, and the advanced training of scientists and engineers. - The upgrade necessitates significant engineering and construction, including replacing 1.2 kilometers of the current accelerator with new, innovative components. Key hardware being installed includes cutting-edge niobium-tin superconducting magnets and compact superconducting "crab cavities" to precisely manipulate the particle beams. - The project's vast supply chain creates opportunities for specialized technology firms. For instance, CERN has contracted Hamamatsu Photonics to produce approximately 45,000 silicon sensors for the upgraded ATLAS and CMS detectors. - CERN is a significant employer for a wide range of professions beyond physics, including mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, as well as data science and administration. The organization offers numerous career paths, including internships and graduate programs, providing opportunities for skill development in a high-tech, international environment.
