• Question: What does accelerating particles show us?

    Asked by u10smithk to Ben on 24 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Ben Drumm

      Ben Drumm answered on 24 Jun 2013:

      Accelerating particles on its own shows us nothing. It’s what we do with those particles that’s important.

      We accelerate protons to 84% of the speed of light and direct them at a large metal target. The protons SMASH into the target and knock out neutrons in all directions (think of a cue ball in snooker as a proton, hitting a pack on reds which fly everywhere – the reds are the neutrons)…

      We guide the neutrons to samples which scientists bring in to test, and when the neutrons hit the samples they tell us all sorts of things about what is going on inside.

      For example, we’ve used neutrons to look at fossilised plants trapped in earth/stone – removing the earth/stone would damage the fossil, but neutrons allow us to see inside without damaging it!

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