High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider

High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. It is a major upgrade project for the Large Hadron Collider at the CERN laboratory. Scheduled to begin operations in 2029, the project aims to significantly increase the number of particle collisions, thereby enabling more precise studies of fundamental physics. This enhanced performance is designed to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe following the discovery of the Higgs boson.

Overview and Goals

The primary goal is to increase the integrated luminosity by a factor of ten beyond the original design of the Large Hadron Collider. This will allow experiments like ATLAS and CMS to collect vastly larger datasets. The initiative is central to CERN's long-term strategy, ensuring the facility remains at the forefront of particle physics research into the 2030s. The project was formally approved by the CERN Council in 2016, following extensive research and development work.

Technical Upgrades

Achieving the luminosity target requires revolutionary changes to the accelerator complex. Key innovations include the installation of cutting-edge, superconducting "crab cavities" to tilt particle bunches before collision. The project will also deploy new, powerful quadrupole magnets made from niobium-tin to focus beams more intensely at the interaction points. Critical components of the LHC injector chain, including the Proton Synchrotron and Super Proton Synchrotron, are also being upgraded to provide the necessary high-intensity beams. Furthermore, the experiments themselves are undergoing major renovations to handle the extreme radiation environment and higher data rates.

Physics Objectives

The enhanced luminosity will permit unprecedented measurements of the properties of the Higgs boson, probing its interactions with other particles with great precision. Scientists aim to investigate rare decay modes and search for potential deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model. The larger datasets will also significantly improve sensitivity to signs of new physics, such as supersymmetry or dark matter candidates produced in collisions. This program is essential for exploring the fundamental nature of the electroweak symmetry breaking mechanism discovered at the LHC.

Project Timeline and Status

The project timeline is structured in phases aligned with the scheduled long shutdowns of the Large Hadron Collider. Major installation work began during the second long shutdown, which concluded in 2022, and will continue through the third long shutdown starting in 2026. The first technical systems, including prototypes of the crab cavities, have already been successfully tested in the Super Proton Synchrotron. The official start of high-luminosity operations is planned for 2029, following the completion of all upgrades and commissioning.

Collaboration and Funding

The project is a vast international endeavor involving scientists and engineers from dozens of countries. Key contributions come from institutions like the United States Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and various members of the CERN member states. Significant in-kind contributions and component manufacturing are provided by partners in Japan, Russia, and India. The total cost is estimated at approximately 1.2 billion Swiss francs, shared among the international collaborating institutions, ensuring this flagship project for global particle physics is realized.

Category:Particle accelerators Category:CERN Category:Physics experiments