Nuclear scientists in Kansas discover gold formation during collisions in the Large Hadron Collider, using their unique methodology

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), an immense 17-mile-long particle accelerator straddling the French-Swiss border, has once again made headlines with a groundbreaking discovery. In the CERN ALICE experiment, nuclear physicists have momentarily transformed lead into gold through ultra-peripheral collisions (UPCs).

This transformation, a remarkable fusion of theoretical physics and experimental prowess, is embedded in the interplay of photons and nuclear forces. The physics team at the University of Kansas, led by Professor Daniel Tapia Takaki, is involved in developing methods for detecting and analyzing UPCs, collaborating closely with CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.

In UPCs, ions—highly charged nuclei racing around the collider’s tunnel—glance past each other without overlapping. Each ion's tremendous electric field produces a stream of photons, particles of light, that can interact with neighboring ions in unique ways. The research, led by a team including graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research scientists from the University of Kansas, focuses on photon-mediated nuclear processes at the Large Hadron Collider.

The CERN ALICE experiment, the subject of the investigation, employs the specially designed ALICE detector to capture these nuanced interactions. Breakthroughs in UPC studies may guide the construction of future collider facilities, offering insights that inform both theoretical models and practical engineering considerations.

The team anticipates refining UPC measurement techniques and upgrading detector capabilities to deepen understanding of light-matter interactions at small scales. The insights gained from ALICE’s UPC studies will also inform astrophysical models involving high-energy photon interactions, such as neutron stars and cosmic ray propagation.

The research is detailed in a Physical Review C article about photon-induced reactions in ultra-peripheral lead collisions at the LHC, authored by Tapia Takaki et al. The article's image credits are attributed to CERN. The transformation of lead into gold represents a significant milestone in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe's fundamental components.