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CERN Alumni Third Collisions: A confluence of reconnection, networking and celebration

Τρί, 16/01/2024 - 11:37
CERN Alumni Third Collisions: A confluence of reconnection, networking and celebration  

"Great stories of entrepreneurship! It was amazing to see the impact that CERN alumni are making in society." These are the words of a CERN alumni who took part in the Second Collisions event, in 2021. These sentiments echo the anticipation surrounding the upcoming Third Collisions event, taking place at CERN from 9 to 11 February.

In less than a month, CERN will play host to several hundred alumni, marking the third reunion of this network, now entering its seventh year of existence. The event promises a rich tapestry of experiences, blending insightful talks, stimulating panels, and the chance to reconnect with former colleagues. The focus of the talks and panels extends beyond the scientific realm, delving into pressing topics like climate change, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The event serves as a nexus for networking, providing opportunities for alumni to reconnect and engage with members of the CERN community.

A notable addition to this year's programme is the inaugural jobs fair, bringing together companies and EIROforum organisations actively seeking individuals with skills cultivated at CERN. CERN Alumni companies will also feature, as will CERN teams such as Knowledge Transfer, CERN Courier, and the CERN & Society Foundation, amongst others. Many companies will be in place, as of the afternoon of Thursday, 8 February, in the Main Building, and will eagerly welcome those at CERN contemplating their next professional venture.

The Third Collisions aren't just about work; they encompass a spectrum of events, sparking CERN nostalgia, including a welcome reception, gala dinner, and multiple coffee breaks that facilitate informal networking. The agenda also boasts diverse entertainment options, ranging from a ski outing to a MusiClub alumni DJ set and the screening of "Almost Nothing", followed by a Q&A with one of the directors. Fitness activities are also on the menu, ensuring a well-rounded experience for all participants.

The event's detailed programme, list of speakers, and additional information can be accessed here.

To facilitate participation, a small financial contribution is requested, ensuring the smooth execution of this grand event. For the first time, participants are welcome to bring a plus one (over 18s only), enhancing the sense of community and celebration.

Additionally, the organising committee is seeking volunteers to contribute to the event's success. Those willing to lend a helping hand will have their registration fees waived, further emphasising the collaborative spirit that defines the CERN and CERN Alumni communities. Please contact alumni.relations@cern.ch for more information.

Join us at CERN Alumni Third Collisions, which promise to be an extraordinary blend of knowledge exchange, professional networking, and celebration, reinforcing the impact of CERN alumni on society and echoing the continuous legacy of excellence set by CERN and its remarkable alumni.

anschaef Tue, 01/16/2024 - 10:37 Byline CERN Alumni programme Publication Date Tue, 01/16/2024 - 10:34

Computer Security: Hits are coming closer

Δευ, 15/01/2024 - 12:48
Computer Security: Hits are coming closer

Like it or not, the cyber realm is unfortunately developing alongside the physical world. While in the real world, conflicts tragically dominate world politics, the usual commercial cyber-attackers have increased their attacks, too. And, unlike in the past, the research and education (R&E) sector is no longer spared.

Until recently, universities had been attacked only very occasionally. One of the last in this sad line-up was the University of Michigan. But the last year has also seen major attacks against accelerators and telescopes ─ as collateral damage and as the attackers’ main focus, respectively. What we feared in the past has become reality: where there is operational value, there is a business opportunity for malicious evildoers to extract money ─ and this applies to the R&E community as well. To “ransom” the operator, threaten operations, stop production and cause damage.

Over the past 12 months, the CERN Computer Security team has tirelessly helped dozens of universities worldwide to protect themselves against such “ransomware” attacks (see our monthly security reports) and improve their defences, as well as providing training, tipping them off to imminent danger where our threat intel permits and assisting them in incident response when it was too late and damage had been done. Similarly, the base question is not “if” but “when” CERN will be subject to a ransomware attack. The three mantras of ransomware defence are “Don’t get it”, “Don’t pay” and have all-encompassing, complete and thoroughly tested back-ups in place. While CERN has taken a firm position on the second mantra (incidentally, governments are increasingly prohibiting ransom payments), and the IT department, in collaboration with many stakeholders in the Organization, is hard at work on the third, the first mantra – raising our defences – is the hardest one. Many projects are already under way and we’re not done yet:

  • 2024 will see an even more all-encompassing roll-out of 2-factor protection, in particular to our user community and to holders of so-called “secondary” accounts. It will eventually also cover LXPLUS and the CERN Windows terminal servers.
  • The “new” anti-malware solution will finally be deployed to all CERN/centrally managed Windows PCs and we will investigate whether this protective means can also be forced onto any other Windows laptop or Macbook purchased and owned by the Organization.
  • Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing against CERN’s internet presence is currently being tendered and will start in early 2024 (the owners of vulnerable websites and web servers may possibly be required to contribute to the cost).
  • Together with HR’s Learning and Development group, we will expand CERN’s training catalogue and offer dedicated hands-on courses on secure programming and software development, as well as IT operations.
  • In parallel, Gitlab security scanning may make it into your pipelines and into your choice of virtual machines and containers in order to reduce the risk through the “software supply chain”.
  • Our Security Operations Centre will extend its remit to cover even more data sources, enabling us to monitor more network segments than ever before, as well as our main cloud-based services (such as Google and Microsoft).
  • Finally, CERN recently concluded an external audit on “cyber security” and its findings and resulting recommendations will be addressed in the course of 2024 (more on that in a future Bulletin article).

In any case, ransomware hits are coming closer. Unlike some of our unfortunate partner universities and some astronomy experiments and particle accelerators, CERN has not been hit yet. Yet! And we hope to keep it that way. Cybersecurity is a permanent marathon: our work will never be done. But for this race, we appreciate (and need!) your help in securing the Organization. As “sec_irty” is not complete without “u”!!! Let’s have a (more) peaceful 2024.

____

Do you want to learn more about computer security incidents and issues at CERN? Follow our Monthly Report. For further information, questions or help, check our website or contact us at Computer.Security@cern.ch.

In case you missed it in December, the talk "CERN Computer Security: Abuse, Blunder and Fun" will be repeated on 30 January at 11 h in the Council Chamber. More information on Indico: https://indico.cern.ch/event/1365440/ anschaef Mon, 01/15/2024 - 11:48 Byline Computer Security team Publication Date Mon, 01/15/2024 - 11:45

LHCb experiment releases all of its Run 1 proton–proton data

Πέμ, 11/01/2024 - 12:28
LHCb experiment releases all of its Run 1 proton–proton data

At the end of December 2023, the LHCb experiment released all its data from Run 1 of the Large Hadron Collider. This data, collected by the experiment in 2011 and 2012, contains approximately 800 terabytes of information obtained from proton–proton collisions. The data has been made available in a pre-filtered format, suitable for a wide range of physics studies for research and education purposes. 

LHCb data across Runs 1 and 2 has already been used for over 700 scientific publications, including numerous significant findings. All results from the collaboration have already been made publicly accessible in open-access papers and the numerical results from the graphs can be consulted in the HEPData database. With the new release, the data used by the researchers to produce these results is now accessible. The data has been released in the framework of CERN’s Open Data Policy, which reflects values that have been enshrined in the CERN Convention for more than sixty years and applies to all of CERN’s activities.

The collaboration has pre-processed the data by reconstructing experimental signatures, such as the trajectories of charged particles, from the raw information delivered by the complex detector system. The data is filtered, classified according to a large number of processes and decays, and made available in the same format that is used internally by LHCb physicists. The data can be downloaded from the CERN Open Data portal.

To aid the user’s understanding, the samples come with extensive documentation and metadata, as well as a glossary explaining several hundred specialised terms used in the pre-processing. The data can be analysed using dedicated LHCb algorithms, which are available as open-source software.

All data sets have digital identifiers (DOIs) for reference and citation. The experiment also welcomes feedback on how the data is used and invites users to discuss and post questions in the CERN Open Data Forum.

ndinmore Thu, 01/11/2024 - 11:28 Byline LHCb collaboration Publication Date Thu, 01/11/2024 - 11:21

A year to celebrate CERN’s 70th anniversary

Πέμ, 21/12/2023 - 16:56
A year to celebrate CERN’s 70th anniversary

CERN wishes you a happy 2024 as we look forward to a year of celebrations for CERN’s 70th anniversary

Happy 2024 from CERN!

In 2024, CERN is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Throughout the year, events and activities will showcase the Laboratory’s rich past, as well as its bright future with a unique accelerator complex set to drive 70 more years of research into what the Universe is made of and how it works.

With the full programme of events soon to be announced, join us for the first event, Unveiling the Universe, on 30 January in CERN Science Gateway. This event will combine science, art and culture, looking back on CERN’s 70 years of scientific discoveries and looking forward to how many mysteries of the Universe are still to be understood.

Physicists and artists will explore human creativity, curiosity, imagination and inspiration, looking at how we have built and will continue to build knowledge and understanding of the big questions about the Universe: from the first billionth of a second after the Big Bang to the invisible “dark” Universe.

The day will begin with the inaugural CERN Art and Science Summit. Renowned artists and scientists will delve into the challenges and opportunities of engagement between art and science. The summit will highlight the achievements of CERN’s forward-thinking approach to arts and creativity through the Arts at CERN programme.

The evening will be one of conversations with distinguished scientists of different generations – David Gross, Djuna Croon, Gian Francesco Giudice and Tara Shears – exploring the development of knowledge in particle physics and CERN’s contributions to these developments.

All this will be interspersed with a visit to the art-based Exploring the Unknown exhibition in CERN Science Gateway, and the evening will be rounded off with Enigma, a visual and audio performance.

More information to come when registration opens. For now, save the date of 30 January.

ndinmore Thu, 12/21/2023 - 15:56 Publication Date Mon, 01/08/2024 - 14:56

Watch: Music and physics: a spacetime voyage back to our origins, with Yo-Yo Ma and Fabiola Gianotti

Πέμ, 21/12/2023 - 11:36
Watch: Music and physics: a spacetime voyage back to our origins, with Yo-Yo Ma and Fabiola Gianotti CERN's Director General, Fabiola Gianotti (left) with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma (right). (Image: CERN)

From creativity to curiosity and the wish to explore the unknown, physics and music are intrinsically linked. For one special evening held at CERN Science Gateway, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and CERN physicist and Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, discussed the commonalities and relations between physics and music and the human experiences of both.

The duo musically demonstrated concepts such as the mystery of dark matter, symmetries, complexity built upon simplicity, with Ma on the cello and Gianotti on the piano. Together, they played Franz Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, while a recording of Debussy’s La Cathédrale Engloutie accompanied striking images of the CERN experiments. To close the evening, Ma played a contemplative performance of Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel.

Watch highlights of the evening by clicking on the link below.

ndinmore Thu, 12/21/2023 - 10:36 Publication Date Fri, 12/22/2023 - 09:54

Watch: Music and physics: a spacetime voyage back to our origins, with Yo-Yo Ma and Fabiola Gianotti

Πέμ, 21/12/2023 - 11:36
Watch: Music and physics: a spacetime voyage back to our origins, with Yo-Yo Ma and Fabiola Gianotti CERN's Director General, Fabiola Gianotti (left) with renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma (right). (Image: CERN)

From creativity to curiosity and the wish to explore the unknown, physics and music are intrinsically linked. For one special evening held at CERN Science Gateway, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and CERN physicist and Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, discussed the commonalities and relations between physics and music and the human experiences of both.

The duo musically demonstrated concepts such as the mystery of dark matter, symmetries, complexity built upon simplicity, with Ma on the cello and Gianotti on the piano. Together, they played Franz Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata, while a recording of Debussy’s La Cathédrale Engloutie accompanied striking images of the CERN experiments. To close the evening, Ma played a contemplative performance of Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel.

Watch highlights of the evening by clicking on the link below.

ndinmore Thu, 12/21/2023 - 10:36 Publication Date Fri, 12/22/2023 - 09:54

CERN highlights in 2023

Τετ, 20/12/2023 - 19:15
CERN highlights in 2023

In 2023, CERN celebrated a year of achievements on its journey of scientific exploration. The inauguration of CERN Science Gateway, an emblematic education and outreach centre, reflected CERN's commitment to inspiring future generations.

Precision measurements took centre stage as the ATLAS experiment set records in studying the Higgs boson mass and the strong force strength. The CMS experiment presented its search for dark photons and other exotic particles and measured tau-lepton polarisation in Z-boson decays. The ALICE experiment shone light on the nucleus by probing its intricate structure and on charm and beauty quark dynamics in quark–gluon plasma. The LHCb experiment made the most precise measurement yet of matter–antimatter asymmetry with beauty quarks and observed hypertriton, a key to modelling neutron star cores.

Lead ions collided in the Large Hadron Collider for the first time in five years and collider neutrinos were observed for the first time by FASER and SND@LHC. To prepare for the future, the High-Luminosity LHC team completed and validated key hardware components, underground structures and services. From observing antimatter’s fall under gravity to advancements in atomic clock precision and probing dark matter searches, CERN's diverse experiments underlined the Laboratory’s key role in shaping the future of particle physics and our understanding of the Universe.

CERN celebrated the Year of Open Science with NASA and other scientific institutions and collaborated with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme to use its technologies for humanitarian action and fighting hunger. CERN’s impact reached far beyond the Laboratory with initiatives such as exploring superconductivity solutions for renewable energy transmission with SuperNode, moving forward with the demonstrator for low-carbon aviation with Airbus and accelerating deep-tech startups with CERN Venture Connect.

Host State presidents Emmanuel Macron and Alain Berset also visited CERN this year.

Watch CERN in 2023 and enjoy a visual journey through some of the many highlights of the year, immersing yourself in groundbreaking achievements and scientific wonders.

 

ckrishna Wed, 12/20/2023 - 18:15 Byline Chetna Krishna Publication Date Fri, 12/22/2023 - 10:00

CERN highlights in 2023

Τετ, 20/12/2023 - 19:15
CERN highlights in 2023

In 2023, CERN celebrated a year of achievements on its journey of scientific exploration. The inauguration of CERN Science Gateway, an emblematic education and outreach centre, reflected CERN's commitment to inspiring future generations.

Precision measurements took centre stage as the ATLAS experiment set records in studying the Higgs boson mass and the strong force strength. The CMS experiment presented its search for dark photons and other exotic particles and measured tau-lepton polarisation in Z-boson decays. The ALICE experiment shone light on the nucleus by probing its intricate structure and on charm and beauty quark dynamics in quark–gluon plasma. The LHCb experiment made the most precise measurement yet of matter–antimatter asymmetry with beauty quarks and observed hypertriton, a key to modelling neutron star cores.

Lead ions collided in the Large Hadron Collider for the first time in five years and collider neutrinos were observed for the first time by FASER and SND@LHC. To prepare for the future, the High-Luminosity LHC team completed and validated key hardware components, underground structures and services. From observing antimatter’s fall under gravity to advancements in atomic clock precision and probing dark matter searches, CERN's diverse experiments underlined the Laboratory’s key role in shaping the future of particle physics and our understanding of the Universe.

CERN celebrated the Year of Open Science with NASA and other scientific institutions and collaborated with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme to use its technologies for humanitarian action and fighting hunger. CERN’s impact reached far beyond the Laboratory with initiatives such as exploring superconductivity solutions for renewable energy transmission with SuperNode, moving forward with the demonstrator for low-carbon aviation with Airbus and accelerating deep-tech startups with CERN Venture Connect.

Host State presidents Emmanuel Macron and Alain Berset also visited CERN this year.

Watch CERN in 2023 and enjoy a visual journey through some of the many highlights of the year, immersing yourself in groundbreaking achievements and scientific wonders.

 

ckrishna Wed, 12/20/2023 - 18:15 Byline Chetna Krishna Publication Date Fri, 12/22/2023 - 10:00

Shaping future quantum techniques in machine learning at CERN

Τετ, 20/12/2023 - 11:43
Shaping future quantum techniques in machine learning at CERN Natalia Ares from the University of Oxford presents machine learning for tackling quantum device variability at the 7th International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning, held at CERN in November. More than 300 people attended in person, with more following online. (Image: CERN)

Problem solving gets faster if quantum methodologies are used instead of classical computers. Physicists and computer scientists are therefore working closely together to explore this potential. In November, the 7th International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning (QTML) was held at CERN, bringing together more than 300 researchers and industry partners in the field.

Machine learning uses data and algorithms to help computers to learn patterns and perform more effectively at tasks ranging from helping doctors to diagnose cancer to improving facial recognition. Combining techniques from quantum physics with machine learning can reduce the number of steps needed for algorithms to obtain a correct answer.

“CERN is putting significant effort into developing quantum technology for particle physics and beyond, through the Quantum Technology Initiative and the Open Quantum Institute,” explained Alberto di Meglio, head of the Innovation section in CERN’s IT department, in his opening speech. As well as talks from researchers, organisations and companies showcased their latest developments, with talks from ESA, Google, IBM, Intel, IONQ, NASA and PASQAL. Applications ranged from optimising aircraft cargo loading to developing new algorithms to study lithium compounds and their chemical reactions in battery chemistry. “The presence of major industry partners was a key element of the conference,” confirms Michele Grossi, senior fellow in quantum computing and algorithms at CERN. “The continuous interaction between industry and academia is helping the community to drive the quantum revolution in a fair way.”

The conference was organised without parallel sessions, which divide participants, enabling researchers from various fields to interact. “This conference allowed more than 300 people to gather each day to exchange around one focused theme,” says Miguel Marquina, senior staff member in CERN’s IT department. “It is powerful to experience such an engaging environment.”

The 8th edition of the International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning will take place in 2024 at the University of Melbourne. More information can be found on the QTML 2023 and QTI websites.

Attendees of the 7th International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning, held at CERN. (Image: CERN) katebrad Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:43 Byline Mariana Velho Publication Date Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:59

Shaping future quantum techniques in machine learning at CERN

Τετ, 20/12/2023 - 11:43
Shaping future quantum techniques in machine learning at CERN Natalia Ares from the University of Oxford presents machine learning for tackling quantum device variability at the 7th International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning, held at CERN in November. More than 300 people attended in person, with more following online. (Image: CERN)

Problem solving gets faster if quantum methodologies are used instead of classical computers. Physicists and computer scientists are therefore working closely together to explore this potential. In November, the 7th International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning (QTML) was held at CERN, bringing together more than 300 researchers and industry partners in the field.

Machine learning uses data and algorithms to help computers to learn patterns and perform more effectively at tasks ranging from helping doctors to diagnose cancer to improving facial recognition. Combining techniques from quantum physics with machine learning can reduce the number of steps needed for algorithms to obtain a correct answer.

“CERN is putting significant effort into developing quantum technology for particle physics and beyond, through the Quantum Technology Initiative and the Open Quantum Institute,” explained Alberto di Meglio, head of the Innovation section in CERN’s IT department, in his opening speech. As well as talks from researchers, organisations and companies showcased their latest developments, with talks from ESA, Google, IBM, Intel, IONQ, NASA and PASQAL. Applications ranged from optimising aircraft cargo loading to developing new algorithms to study lithium compounds and their chemical reactions in battery chemistry. “The presence of major industry partners was a key element of the conference,” confirms Michele Grossi, senior fellow in quantum computing and algorithms at CERN. “The continuous interaction between industry and academia is helping the community to drive the quantum revolution in a fair way.”

The conference was organised without parallel sessions, which divide participants, enabling researchers from various fields to interact. “This conference allowed more than 300 people to gather each day to exchange around one focused theme,” says Miguel Marquina, senior staff member in CERN’s IT department. “It is powerful to experience such an engaging environment.”

The 8th edition of the International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning will take place in 2024 at the University of Melbourne. More information can be found on the QTML 2023 and QTI websites.

Attendees of the 7th International Conference on Quantum Techniques in Machine Learning, held at CERN. (Image: CERN) katebrad Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:43 Byline Mariana Velho Publication Date Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:59

Hi-Lumi News: First magnet from the US Accelerator Upgrade Project shipped to CERN

Δευ, 18/12/2023 - 17:24
Hi-Lumi News: First magnet from the US Accelerator Upgrade Project shipped to CERN The cryo-assembly containing two MQXFA magnets was delivered to CERN in early December. (Image: CERN)

At the beginning of December, CERN received an important shipment. It contained a cryo-assembly of two 4.2-m-long magnets developed by the Accelerator Upgrade Project in the US. These magnets are vital for the high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC). With coils made from niobium–tin, instead of the niobium–titanium that the LHC currently uses, they will help focus the particle beams to an even smaller spot size at the interaction points of the ATLAS and CMS experiments.

This is the first of ten cryo-assemblies that will make the month-long journey from the US. A celebration was held at CERN on Monday, 18 December to commemorate this milestone, bringing people from both sides of the Atlantic together. “In the realm of large scientific endeavours like the HL-LHC, global collaboration and expertise play pivotal roles. The delivery of the first cryo-assembly housing fully validated niobium–tin series magnets is a tangible testament to the success of the US Accelerator Upgrade Project,” says Mike Lamont, CERN Director for Accelerators and Technology. “This event not only marks a crucial milestone in our collaboration with our US partners, but also celebrates the outstanding contributions shaping the future landscape of particle physics at CERN.”

These cryo-assemblies from the US will be used in conjunction with the 7.2-m-long magnets of the same design developed at CERN for the HL-LHC. Both types of magnet are to be installed in the inner-triplet (IT) string, a facility at CERN built to test all the components that will comprise the interaction regions at ATLAS and CMS.

“With this arrival, five out of the six cryomagnets for the IT string are now at CERN ready for testing,” says Ezio Todesco, who is in charge of the HL-LHC interaction region magnets. “The string will take on good colours in 2024.”

“This first cold-mass assembly will go into the IT string and will be extensively tested throughout 2025,” says Oliver Brüning, HL-LHC project leader. “This marks the start of a new phase of the CERN-US collaboration: the delivery of final cryo-assemblies ready for installation in the LHC.”

Giorgio Apollinari, Project Director of the HL-LHC AUP, is looking forward to this next phase of the project. “We have been building these magnets in the US for the last five years and have now completed 75% of their production,” he said. “We’ve sent the first two magnets in a final cryo-assembly after extensive tests in the US and are already putting together the next cryo-assembly, scheduled to arrive at CERN by early 2024.”

Watch a timelapse of the magnet unboxing at CERN below.

ndinmore Mon, 12/18/2023 - 16:24 Byline Naomi Dinmore Publication Date Mon, 12/18/2023 - 16:12

Hi-Lumi News: First magnet from the US Accelerator Upgrade Project shipped to CERN

Δευ, 18/12/2023 - 17:24
Hi-Lumi News: First magnet from the US Accelerator Upgrade Project shipped to CERN The magnet, referred to as MQXFA, was shipped to CERN from the US in early December. (Image: CERN)

At the beginning of December, CERN received an important shipment. It contained a cryo-assembly of two 4.2-m-long magnets developed by the Accelerator Upgrade Project in the US. These magnets are vital for the high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC). With coils made from niobium–tin, instead of the niobium–titanium that the LHC currently uses, they will help focus the particle beams to an even smaller spot size at the interaction points of the ATLAS and CMS experiments.

This is the first of ten cryo-assemblies that will make the month-long journey from the US. A celebration was held at CERN on Monday, 18 December to commemorate this milestone, bringing people from both sides of the Atlantic together. “In the realm of large scientific endeavours like the HL-LHC, global collaboration and expertise play pivotal roles. The delivery of the first cryo-assembly housing fully validated niobium–tin series magnets is a tangible testament to the success of the US Accelerator Upgrade Project,” says Mike Lamont, CERN Director for Accelerators and Technology. “This event not only marks a crucial milestone in our collaboration with our US partners, but also celebrates the outstanding contributions shaping the future landscape of particle physics at CERN.”

These cryo-assemblies from the US will be used in conjunction with the 7.2-m-long magnets of the same design developed at CERN for the HL-LHC. Both types of magnet are to be installed in the inner-triplet (IT) string, a facility at CERN built to test all the components that will comprise the interaction regions at ATLAS and CMS.

“With this arrival, five out of the six cryomagnets for the IT string are now at CERN ready for testing,” says Ezio Todesco, who is in charge of the HL-LHC interaction region magnets. “The string will take on good colours in 2024.”

“This first cold-mass assembly will go into the IT string and will be extensively tested throughout 2025,” says Oliver Brüning, HL-LHC project leader. “This marks the start of a new phase of the CERN-US collaboration: the delivery of final cryo-assemblies ready for installation in the LHC.”

Giorgio Apollinari, Project Director of the HL-LHC AUP, is looking forward to this next phase of the project. “We have been building these magnets in the US for the last five years and have now completed 75% of their production,” he said. “We’ve sent the first two magnets in a final cryo-assembly after extensive tests in the US and are already putting together the next cryo-assembly, scheduled to arrive at CERN by early 2024.”

Watch a timelapse of the magnet unboxing at CERN below.

ndinmore Mon, 12/18/2023 - 16:24 Byline Naomi Dinmore Publication Date Mon, 12/18/2023 - 16:12

CERN Council decides to conclude cooperation with Russia and Belarus in 2024

Παρ, 15/12/2023 - 13:06
CERN Council decides to conclude cooperation with Russia and Belarus in 2024

Following a decision taken by the CERN Council today, the Organization’s cooperation with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus will conclude at the expiry in 2024 of the International Cooperation Agreements (ICAs) with the two countries. This decision was taken following the Council’s June 2022 decisions.

International Cooperation Agreements with the Organization normally run for five years, and are tacitly renewed for the same period unless written notice is provided by one party to the other at least six months prior to expiration. 

The cooperation will come to an end on 27 June 2024 for the Republic of Belarus and on 30 November 2024 for the Russian Federation. All relations between CERN and Russian and Belarusian institutions will cease as of these dates. Relations continue with scientists of Russian or Belarusian nationality otherwise affiliated with CERN.

The Council reaffirmed that all the decisions it has taken to date in light of the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation with the involvement of the Republic of Belarus, along with the actions undertaken by the CERN Management, remain in force. These include measures adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the Council on 8 March 2022, and at the Council’s regular meetings on 25 March 2022 and 16 June 2022.

The full text of the Council’s resolutions can be found here

angerard Fri, 12/15/2023 - 12:06 Publication Date Fri, 12/15/2023 - 12:06

CERN Council decides to conclude cooperation with Russia and Belarus in 2024

Παρ, 15/12/2023 - 13:06
CERN Council decides to conclude cooperation with Russia and Belarus in 2024

Following a decision taken by the CERN Council today, the Organization’s cooperation with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus will conclude at the expiry in 2024 of the International Cooperation Agreements (ICAs) with the two countries. This decision was taken following the Council’s June 2022 decisions.

International Cooperation Agreements with the Organization normally run for five years, and are tacitly renewed for the same period unless written notice is provided by one party to the other at least six months prior to expiration. 

The cooperation will come to an end on 27 June 2024 for the Republic of Belarus and on 30 November 2024 for the Russian Federation. All relations between CERN and Russian and Belarusian institutions will cease as of these dates. Relations continue with scientists of Russian or Belarusian nationality otherwise affiliated with CERN.

The Council reaffirmed that all the decisions it has taken to date in light of the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation with the involvement of the Republic of Belarus, along with the actions undertaken by the CERN Management, remain in force. These include measures adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the Council on 8 March 2022, and at the Council’s regular meetings on 25 March 2022 and 16 June 2022.

The full text of the Council’s resolutions can be found here

angerard Fri, 12/15/2023 - 12:06 Publication Date Fri, 12/15/2023 - 12:06

CLOUD challenges current understanding of aerosol particle formation in polar and marine regions

Παρ, 15/12/2023 - 12:03
CLOUD challenges current understanding of aerosol particle formation in polar and marine regions

Atmospheric aerosol particles exert a strong net cooling effect on the climate by making clouds brighter and more extensive, reflecting more sunlight back out to space. However, how aerosol particles form in the atmosphere remains poorly understood, especially in polar and marine regions. Globally, the main vapour driving particle formation is thought to be sulfuric acid, stabilised by ammonia. However, since ammonia is frequently lacking in polar and marine regions, models generally underpredict aerosol particles in these regions.

A new study from the CLOUD collaboration now challenges this view, by showing that iodine oxoacids are acting synergistically with sulfuric acid to greatly enhance the particle formation rates. The new findings, described in a paper published today in the journal Science, build on earlier CLOUD studies that showed that iodine oxoacids rapidly form particles even in the complete absence of sulfuric acid. The results imply that climate models are substantially underestimating the formation rates of aerosol particles in marine and polar regions.

“Our results show that climate models need to include iodine oxoacids along with sulfuric acid and other vapours,” says CLOUD spokesperson Jasper Kirkby. “This is particularly important in polar regions, which are highly sensitive to small changes in aerosol particles and clouds. Here, aerosol particles actually providea warming effect by absorbing infrared radiation otherwise lost to space and re-radiating it back down to thesurface.”

The CLOUD experiment is studying how aerosol particles form and grow from mixtures of vapours at atmospheric conditions in a large chamber. It differs from previous experiments both by maintaining ultra-low contaminants and by its precise control of all experimental parameters at conditions found in the real atmosphere. This includes the use of a CERN particle beam to simulate ions formed by galactic cosmic rays at any altitude in the troposphere.

The new CLOUD results show that iodine oxoacids greatly boost the formation rate of sulfuric acid particles. At iodine oxoacid concentrations that are typical of marine and polar regions – between 0.1 and 5 relative to those of sulfuric acid – the CLOUD measurements show that the formation rate of sulfuric acid particles is increased by 10- to 10 000-fold compared with previous estimates.

The CLOUD team found that this increase is due to two effects: first, iodous acid substitutes for ammonia to stabilise newly formed sulfuric acid particles against evaporation and, second, iodic acid facilitates the formation of charged sulfuric acid clusters. Using quantum chemistry, the collaboration has confirmed thesynergy between iodine oxoacids and sulfuric acid, and calculated particle formation rates that closely agree with the CLOUD measurements.

“Global marine iodine emissions have tripled in the past 70 years due to thinning sea ice and rising ozone concentrations, and this trend is likely to continue,” says Kirkby. “The resultant increase of marine aerosol particles and clouds, suggested by our findings, will have created a positive feedback that accelerates the loss of sea ice in polar regions, while simultaneously introducing a cooling effect at lower latitudes. The next generation of climate models will need to take iodine vapours into account.”

abelchio Fri, 12/15/2023 - 11:03 Publication Date Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:46

CLOUD challenges current understanding of aerosol particle formation in polar and marine regions

Παρ, 15/12/2023 - 12:03
CLOUD challenges current understanding of aerosol particle formation in polar and marine regions

Atmospheric aerosol particles exert a strong net cooling effect on the climate by making clouds brighter and more extensive, reflecting more sunlight back out to space. However, how aerosol particles form in the atmosphere remains poorly understood, especially in polar and marine regions. Globally, the main vapour driving particle formation is thought to be sulfuric acid, stabilised by ammonia. However, since ammonia is frequently lacking in polar and marine regions, models generally underpredict aerosol particles in these regions.

A new study from the CLOUD collaboration now challenges this view, by showing that iodine oxoacids are acting synergistically with sulfuric acid to greatly enhance the particle formation rates. The new findings, described in a paper published today in the journal Science, build on earlier CLOUD studies that showed that iodine oxoacids rapidly form particles even in the complete absence of sulfuric acid. The results imply that climate models are substantially underestimating the formation rates of aerosol particles in marine and polar regions.

“Our results show that climate models need to include iodine oxoacids along with sulfuric acid and other vapours,” says CLOUD spokesperson Jasper Kirkby. “This is particularly important in polar regions, which are highly sensitive to small changes in aerosol particles and clouds. Here, aerosol particles actually providea warming effect by absorbing infrared radiation otherwise lost to space and re-radiating it back down to thesurface.”

The CLOUD experiment is studying how aerosol particles form and grow from mixtures of vapours at atmospheric conditions in a large chamber. It differs from previous experiments both by maintaining ultra-low contaminants and by its precise control of all experimental parameters at conditions found in the real atmosphere. This includes the use of a CERN particle beam to simulate ions formed by galactic cosmic rays at any altitude in the troposphere.

The new CLOUD results show that iodine oxoacids greatly boost the formation rate of sulfuric acid particles. At iodine oxoacid concentrations that are typical of marine and polar regions – between 0.1 and 5 relative to those of sulfuric acid – the CLOUD measurements show that the formation rate of sulfuric acid particles is increased by 10- to 10 000-fold compared with previous estimates.

The CLOUD team found that this increase is due to two effects: first, iodous acid substitutes for ammonia to stabilise newly formed sulfuric acid particles against evaporation and, second, iodic acid facilitates the formation of charged sulfuric acid clusters. Using quantum chemistry, the collaboration has confirmed thesynergy between iodine oxoacids and sulfuric acid, and calculated particle formation rates that closely agree with the CLOUD measurements.

“Global marine iodine emissions have tripled in the past 70 years due to thinning sea ice and rising ozone concentrations, and this trend is likely to continue,” says Kirkby. “The resultant increase of marine aerosol particles and clouds, suggested by our findings, will have created a positive feedback that accelerates the loss of sea ice in polar regions, while simultaneously introducing a cooling effect at lower latitudes. The next generation of climate models will need to take iodine vapours into account.”

abelchio Fri, 12/15/2023 - 11:03 Publication Date Fri, 12/15/2023 - 10:46

Charm is better than beauty at going with the flow

Πέμ, 14/12/2023 - 12:22
Charm is better than beauty at going with the flow

When two lead ions collide at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), they produce an extremely hot and dense state of matter in which quarks and gluons are not confined inside composite particles called hadrons. This fireball ­of particles – known as quark–gluon plasma and believed to have filled the Universe in the first few millionths of a second after the Big Bang– expands and cools down rapidly. The quarks and gluons then transform back into hadrons, which fly out of the collision zone towards particle detectors.

In collisions where the two lead ions do not collide head on, the overlap region between the ions has an elliptic shape that leaves an imprint on the flow of hadrons. Measurements of such elliptic flow provide a powerful way to study quark–gluon plasma. In a recent paper, the ALICE collaboration reported a new measurement of the elliptic flow of hadrons containing heavy quarks, which are particularly powerful probes of the plasma.

Unlike the gluons and light quarks that make up the bulk of the quark–gluon plasma created in heavy-ion collisions, heavy charm and beauty quarks are produced in the initial stages of the collisions, before the plasma forms. They therefore interact with the plasma throughout its entire evolution, from its expansion and cooling to its transformation into hadrons. Multiple interactions with the plasma’s constituents bring heavy quarks into thermal equilibrium with the medium within a time that is inversely proportional to the quark’s mass. Charm quarks are lighter than beauty quarks, so a shorter thermalisation time and a larger degree of thermalisation is expected for charm quarks than beauty quarks.

Once they thermalise with the plasma, charm quarks form D mesons and beauty quarks form B mesons, by combining with the medium’s light quarks (see figure above). Previous measurements have shown that the elliptic flow of such “prompt” D mesons, so named because they are produced right after the collisions, is almost as strong as that of the lightest hadrons, pions. Because the thermalisation time is expected to be longer for beauty quarks than charm quarks, the elliptic flow of B mesons is predicted to be weaker than that of prompt D mesons.

In its recent analysis of non-head-on lead–lead collisions that occurred during Run 2 of the LHC, the ALICE collaboration measured the elliptic flow of B mesons, by measuring the flow of “non-prompt” D mesons that are produced in the decays of B mesons (see figure above). Key to the analysis was the adoption of a machine-learning technique to separate the products of the decay of non-prompt D mesons from those of the prompt ones, as well as to supress the many background particle processes that mimic D meson production and decay.

The new measurement shows that the elliptic flow of the non-prompt D mesons is weaker than that of their prompt counterparts, in agreement with the expectation. The result sheds new light on the thermalisation of beauty quarks in the quark–gluon plasma, and paves the way for new ALICE measurements based on data from Run 3 of the LHC. With 40 times more collisions than the total recorded by ALICE in its previous periods of heavy-ion data taking, the new sample of lead–lead collisions taken in 2023 will allow the flow of charm and beauty particles to be studied in greater detail, shedding further light on their dynamics in the quark–gluon plasma.

abelchio Thu, 12/14/2023 - 11:22 Publication Date Fri, 12/15/2023 - 11:21

Charm is better than beauty at going with the flow

Πέμ, 14/12/2023 - 12:22
Charm is better than beauty at going with the flow

When two lead ions collide at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), they produce an extremely hot and dense state of matter in which quarks and gluons are not confined inside composite particles called hadrons. This fireball ­of particles – known as quark–gluon plasma and believed to have filled the Universe in the first few millionths of a second after the Big Bang– expands and cools down rapidly. The quarks and gluons then transform back into hadrons, which fly out of the collision zone towards particle detectors.

In collisions where the two lead ions do not collide head on, the overlap region between the ions has an elliptic shape that leaves an imprint on the flow of hadrons. Measurements of such elliptic flow provide a powerful way to study quark–gluon plasma. In a recent paper, the ALICE collaboration reported a new measurement of the elliptic flow of hadrons containing heavy quarks, which are particularly powerful probes of the plasma.

Unlike the gluons and light quarks that make up the bulk of the quark–gluon plasma created in heavy-ion collisions, heavy charm and beauty quarks are produced in the initial stages of the collisions, before the plasma forms. They therefore interact with the plasma throughout its entire evolution, from its expansion and cooling to its transformation into hadrons. Multiple interactions with the plasma’s constituents bring heavy quarks into thermal equilibrium with the medium within a time that is inversely proportional to the quark’s mass. Charm quarks are lighter than beauty quarks, so a shorter thermalisation time and a larger degree of thermalisation is expected for charm quarks than beauty quarks.

Once they thermalise with the plasma, charm quarks form D mesons and beauty quarks form B mesons, by combining with the medium’s light quarks (see figure above). Previous measurements have shown that the elliptic flow of such “prompt” D mesons, so named because they are produced right after the collisions, is almost as strong as that of the lightest hadrons, pions. Because the thermalisation time is expected to be longer for beauty quarks than charm quarks, the elliptic flow of B mesons is predicted to be weaker than that of prompt D mesons.

In its recent analysis of non-head-on lead–lead collisions that occurred during Run 2 of the LHC, the ALICE collaboration measured the elliptic flow of B mesons, by measuring the flow of “non-prompt” D mesons that are produced in the decays of B mesons (see figure above). Key to the analysis was the adoption of a machine-learning technique to separate the products of the decay of non-prompt D mesons from those of the prompt ones, as well as to supress the many background particle processes that mimic D meson production and decay.

The new measurement shows that the elliptic flow of the non-prompt D mesons is weaker than that of their prompt counterparts, in agreement with the expectation. The result sheds new light on the thermalisation of beauty quarks in the quark–gluon plasma, and paves the way for new ALICE measurements based on data from Run 3 of the LHC. With 40 times more collisions than the total recorded by ALICE in its previous periods of heavy-ion data taking, the new sample of lead–lead collisions taken in 2023 will allow the flow of charm and beauty particles to be studied in greater detail, shedding further light on their dynamics in the quark–gluon plasma.

abelchio Thu, 12/14/2023 - 11:22 Publication Date Fri, 12/15/2023 - 11:21

Serbia joins the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid

Τετ, 13/12/2023 - 11:17
Serbia joins the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid


The WLCG is a network of computing centres distributed across more than 40 countries that provides global computing resources for the storage, distribution and analysis of the data generated by the LHC.

This complex network is organised in tiers: Tier 0 is the CERN Data Centre; Tier 1 centres are powerful computing farms capable of providing permanent storage of raw data; and Tier 2 centres are additional data centres located in various collaborating institutes worldwide. The MoU signed on 9 December in Serbia marks a decisive step towards the country becoming a WLCG Tier 1 centre. The Serbian data centre will initially receive data from the CMS experiment, of which Serbia is a member.

“The signature of this MoU is a testimony to the vision of the Serbian government and the Serbian scientific community and their commitment towards the CERN research programme, and vice versa,” said Enrica Porcari, head of the CERN IT department, who signed the MoU. “We are impressed by the computing infrastructure that Serbia is making available to the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, and, in particular, to the CMS collaboration. I am sure that this MoU will consolidate even further the longstanding relationship between CERN and Serbia and will contribute to realising our common vision to become a springboard for scientific collaboration here and worldwide. CERN continues to be committed to the co-development and sharing of knowledge with its MoU partners in the spirit of scientific progress.”

anschaef Wed, 12/13/2023 - 10:17 Byline Antonella Del Rosso Publication Date Thu, 12/14/2023 - 10:15

Serbia joins the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid

Τετ, 13/12/2023 - 11:17
Serbia joins the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid


The WLCG is a network of computing centres distributed across more than 40 countries that provides global computing resources for the storage, distribution and analysis of the data generated by the LHC.

This complex network is organised in tiers: Tier 0 is the CERN Data Centre; Tier 1 centres are powerful computing farms capable of providing permanent storage of raw data; and Tier 2 centres are additional data centres located in various collaborating institutes worldwide. The MoU signed on 9 December in Serbia marks a decisive step towards the country becoming a WLCG Tier 1 centre. The Serbian data centre will initially receive data from the CMS experiment, of which Serbia is a member.

“The signature of this MoU is a testimony to the vision of the Serbian government and the Serbian scientific community and their commitment towards the CERN research programme, and vice versa,” said Enrica Porcari, head of the CERN IT department, who signed the MoU. “We are impressed by the computing infrastructure that Serbia is making available to the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, and, in particular, to the CMS collaboration. I am sure that this MoU will consolidate even further the longstanding relationship between CERN and Serbia and will contribute to realising our common vision to become a springboard for scientific collaboration here and worldwide. CERN continues to be committed to the co-development and sharing of knowledge with its MoU partners in the spirit of scientific progress.”

anschaef Wed, 12/13/2023 - 10:17 Byline Antonella Del Rosso Publication Date Thu, 12/14/2023 - 10:15

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