The ALICE experiment of the Large Hadron Collider ( LHC ) looks at what happens when heavy ion smash together . Mostly , it is to understand the quark - gluon plasma that subsist in the first import after the Big Bang . But bang up lead ion together can go against those atoms into more commonly recognisable form , such as the conversion of hint to amber .
This is no alchemy transmutation of lead into atomic number 79 , but nuclear transformation . Lead is made of 82 protons and around 126 neutron at its core . Au instead has 79 proton , just three few than lead . Removing three protons from each lead molecule is what is needed to make this transubstantiation .
It is not the orbit of the LHC , but by smash lead atoms at 99.999993 percent of the pep pill of brightness level , you could get some interesting products . Not all atoms will smash into another , so there will be floating lead ions that continue to speed around the accelerator . It is possible that the strong electromagnetic field of view in the LHC can produce brief but herculean pulses of luminosity , and it is those pulses that can rend those three proton from the lead and turn it into atomic number 79 . What ’s really exciting is that the process can be observe .
“ It is telling to see that our detectors can handle head - on collision producing thousands of subatomic particle , while also being sensible to collision where only a few molecule are produced at a time , start the study of rarified electromagnetic ‘ nuclear transmutation ’ processes , ” Marco Van Leeuwen , ALICE voice , said in astatement .
It is not just atomic number 79 . The squad used the detector ’s zero degree calorimeter ( ZDC ) to evaluate the interaction between the high-pitched - vim luminance and the core group of lead ions . They wanted to see the emission of zero , one , two , and three protons , accompanied by the loss of a neutron . They found that the interaction make tether with fewer neutrons , but also thallium , mercury , and Au .
Gold happens less frequently , but every hit still farm 89,000 gold nuclei per second out of the 174 billion lead atoms in the beam . But there will be no gilded rush at CERN . The measure is a minuscule fraction of a gram , but also ends up slammed at gamey energy on the sides of the accelerator , where the gold speck founder apart .
“ Thanks to the unique capabilities of the ALICE ZDCs , the present analysis is the first to systematically detect and analyse the key signature of gold production at the LHC through an experiment , ” explain Uliana Dmitrieva of the ALICE quislingism .
“ The results also screen and improve theoretic role model of electromagnetic dissociation which , beyond their intrinsical physics pursuit , are used to understand and predict beam losses that are a major demarcation on the performance of the LHC and succeeding collider , ” add up John Jowett , also of the ALICE collaborationism .
Deatails of the employment are published inPhysical Review C.
