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cover of episode This Podcast Was Recorded Inside a Particle Collider

This Podcast Was Recorded Inside a Particle Collider

2025/5/9
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Science Quickly

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Alex Jentsch
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Alex Jentsch: 我们通过摧毁原子来理解原子内部结构,就像拍摄爆炸后的鞭炮照片并试图将其复原一样。相对论性重离子对撞机(RHIC)最初是为了研究宇宙早期状态而建造的,通过模拟大爆炸后的条件,我们试图了解物质在极端条件下的行为。原子核由带正电的质子和不带电的中子组成,而质子和中子内部还有更复杂的夸克结构。夸克是质子和中子内部的组成部分,它们通过强核力结合在一起,这种力比电磁力强得多。胶子是传递强核力的粒子,类似于光子在电磁力中的作用。强核力是将质子和中子结合在一起,最终形成原子核的力。RHIC加速器的工作原理类似于高速公路入口匝道,粒子经过一系列加速器阶段最终达到接近光速并发生碰撞。在重离子碰撞实验中,质子和中子会熔化成夸克-胶子等离子体,其行为更像液体而非气体。夸克-胶子等离子体中的粒子相互作用强烈,这影响了我们对它们的测量。质子的自旋不仅来自夸克,也来自胶子。RHIC将被拆除以腾出空间建造新的电子-离子对撞机(EIC)。与使用质子或离子的碰撞相比,使用电子进行碰撞可以提供更清晰的原子核图像。RHIC每年产生约15PB的数据,并且随着时间的推移数据量不断增加。质子的质量大部分并非来自夸克,而是来自强核力本身的相互作用。质子的自旋只有约30%来自夸克,其余部分的来源尚不清楚。当重离子加速到接近光速时,它是否会无限产生胶子,或者其产生会在某个点停止,这是一个重要的研究问题。理解构成万物的基本粒子对于人类来说至关重要,因为这关乎我们对自身和宇宙的根本认知。在实验室环境中研究宇宙早期状态,以及使用大型机器研究微观粒子,本身就具有极大的吸引力。

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We’re taking a field trip to the U.S.’s only particle collider, the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), housed at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Staff scientist Alex Jentsch takes listeners through some basic terminology and interconnected technologies that help Brookhaven researchers probe questions about our unseen universe. The RHIC is winding down in preparation for the new Electron-Ion Collider, which could help us discover the secrets of the “glue” that holds visible matter together. 

Be sure to head over to our YouTube account to see the video version of this podcast, shot on-site at Brookhaven National Laboratory!

Recommended reading:

Who Will Build the Next Giant Particle Collider?

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-will-build-the-next-giant-particle-collider/

Supersymmetry Washes Out at the Large Hadron Collider

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/supersymmetrys-long-fall-from-grace/

Physicists Are Closer Than Ever to Solving the Puzzle of the Ghostly Neutrino’s Mass

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/neutrino-mass-mystery-shrinks-with-latest-katrin-results/

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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Naeem Amarsy and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman. Our show is edited by Alex Sugiura with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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