Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnD
Report in today's New Scientist (13th Sept), necessarily written before the switch-on date, writes of the need for "beam dumps", where the packet of protons is directed down a side channel to impact in a "1000 tonne block of graphite, concerte and steel designed to absorb its energy".
What? Would even a packet from the LHC make a leaf flutter on impact?
Then, it says the such beam dumps will be "vital to prevent the protons drilling holes in the machine."
Really? Is the LHC such a death ray?
John
|
Even in much smaller Electron Accelerators (usually called Synchrotrons) with much lower Energies there are so called "beam stoppers" which are basicly massive water cooled copper blocks.
Already electrons from a electron beam welder can burn pin holes in steel sheets.
All the GeV's stored in the beam have to be converted into heat when the beam has to be stopped for some reasons. The calculation is relatively easy when you know the kinetic energy of the protons.