How smashing subatomic particles reveals the fundamental secrets of our universe
In short: To understand the universe, scientists must smash the smallest building blocks of reality at nearly the speed of light. By accelerating subatomic particles to extreme velocities and colliding them, researchers can probe the fundamental forces of nature, revealing secrets like how particles acquire mass.
By propelling subatomic entities at extreme velocities towards minute goals, such as atomic nuclei, 'atom smashers' or particle accelerators operate. This process allows physicists to observe high-energy interactions that are otherwise impossible to see. One of the most significant achievements of this technology was the discovery of the Higgs boson, the particle associated with the Higgs field, which provides mass to other fundamental particles.
The evolution of these machines began with relatively simple devices where electrons were launched through cavities filled with electric fields. This basic principle is still visible in everyday technology; for example, cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions functioned as simple colliders by accelerating electrons into a phosphorescent screen. To achieve higher energies, scientists developed linear colliders, such as the 3.2-kilometer-long SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. These devices use a series of chambers where electric fields switch between "push" and "pull" modes to continuously accelerate charged particles.
To reach even greater scales, physicists bend these paths into circles, allowing particles to loop indefinitely. However, this introduces a major challenge from relativity: as particles approach the speed of light, their kinetic energy increases, and because energy equals mass, the particles effectively become heavier. This makes it increasingly difficult to accelerate them further. Beyond pure research, these machines power modern life, from generating X-rays for dental work and targeting cancer cells with protons to manufacturing semiconductors and durable synthetic rubber for tires.
The scale of these interactions is so minute that physicists use the unit "barn" to measure cross-sections. A barn is a square just 10 femtometers—or 10 quadrillionths of a meter—on each side. The term was coined in the 1940s at Purdue University as a play on the phrase "hitting the broad side of a barn."
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A billion particle collisions a second: How large particle colliders work | Don Lincoln
- Also: How do particle colliders work?
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/science-a-billion-particle-collisions-a-second-how-large-particle-co.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Particle physics · More in Science · Latest · A–Z · All topics
