Scientists at Europe’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have achieved a modern twist on an ancient alchemical goal by briefly creating gold ions from lead. This astounding transformation, albeit short-lived, was documented during recent experiments at CERN, the large particle physics laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland. The LHC conducts experiments by smashing together lead ions at speeds nearing that of light.
Occasionally, these ions only glance off one another instead of colliding head-on, leading to interactions in the powerful electromagnetic field that can cause a lead nucleus to eject three protons, transforming it into gold. The ALICE detector at CERN is specifically designed to observe and filter these rare transmutation events from the plethora of collision data. According to calculations published recently in Physical Review, between 2015 and 2018, collisions at the LHC produced 86 billion gold nuclei, amounting to about 29 trillionths of a gram.
Creating gold at the LHC
These gold atoms, however, are volatile, lasting around a microsecond before decaying or being destroyed by further collisions. While the concept of synthesizing gold may evoke images of untold riches, CERN researchers emphasize that this isn’t a practical method for gold production.
Instead, the study advances the understanding of nuclear physics and aids in improving the performance and stability of particle beams in collision experiments. Uliana Dmitrieva, a physicist and member of the ALICE collaboration, remarked, “This analysis systematically detects and analyzes the signature of gold production at the LHC.” Comparing earlier observations from CERN’s SPS accelerator made between 2002 and 2004, physicist Jiangyong Jia of Stony Brook University in New York noted that the new experiments offer higher energy levels, increased probabilities of creating gold, and cleaner observational data. Looking forward, CERN researchers focus on using these insights to enhance the precision and effectiveness of the LHC rather than pursuing alchemical endeavors.
Understanding the interaction of photons with nuclei is crucial for achieving better control over beam quality and stability, contributing to the overarching quest for knowledge in particle physics.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
