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It’s hard to overstate how much the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has helped improve our understanding of the universe. Since its debut in 2008, the 16.7-mile-wide subatomic accelerator buried beneath Switzerland has demonstrated the existence of the Higgs boson particle (also known as the God particle), highlighted the puzzling nature of muons, and even measured antimatter. In contrast, apocalyptic conspiracy theories expanded key concepts of quantum physics, while charting a path forward for researchers around the world.
Still, all good things must come to an end. On June 29, CERN announced that the LHC had officially entered “Extended Shutdown 3,” ceasing operations after 18 years of notable work. But according to some of the most mind-boggling quantum physics concepts, the LHC is technically both dead and not dead at all.
Instead of a complete decommissioning, the collider is now scheduled to begin receiving upgrades that will transform it into an even more powerful version of itself. The Large Hadron Collider is dead; Long live the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HiLumi LHC).
“The LHC has exceeded all expectations,” CERN Director of Accelerators and Technology Oliver Brüning said in a recent statement. “Today we say goodbye to the LHC as we know it, as we prepare to welcome its successor… which will extend this scientific adventure into the future.”
The LHC was idled for upgrades and recalibrations during two previous extended shutdowns in 2013-2015 and 2015-2018. However, these upcoming additions are important enough to usher in a completely new phase in the existence of the atom accelerator. Over the next four years, CERN and its collaborators will renovate the entire LHC complex and its facilities. These will include the consolidation of the North Area Super Proton Synchrotron, the deconstruction of the CERN Neutrinos to the Gran Sasso target area, as well as the revision of a section called Experimental North Cavern 3 into a high intensity fixed target section. Researchers estimate that about 1.25 miles of magnets and other components will be removed and completely replaced with new technology.
“LS3 represents a huge and complex engineering and logistical task,” said LS3 coordination team leader Jean-Philippe Tock.
As expected, starting the new HiLumi LHC won’t be as simple as flipping a switch. It will begin a gradual restart in 2028 before becoming fully operational in 2030. As its name suggests, the HiLumi LHC will generate ten times the luminosity of its predecessor, allowing it to collect data about the subatomic world in much greater detail while investigating topics such as the Higgs boson. From there, the potential for new discoveries is as vast as the universe itself.
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