When protons collide at high energies in a particle accelerator like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), several processes occur that can lead to various outcomes. Here's a general overview of what happens:
Acceleration: Protons are accelerated to extremely high speeds using electromagnetic fields in the LHC. The protons are accelerated in opposite directions within the collider ring, and then brought into collision at designated interaction points.
Interaction: When the protons collide, they do not collide as single particles but rather as composite particles consisting of quarks and gluons bound together by the strong nuclear force. The collision involves a complex interaction between the constituents of the protons.
Energy Transfer: During the collision, a fraction of the kinetic energy of the colliding protons is converted into various forms, such as the creation of new particles or the excitation of existing particles. This energy transfer allows scientists to probe the fundamental nature of matter and explore the properties of particles and forces.
Particle Production: The collision can produce a wide range of particles and their antiparticles, which are typically short-lived and decay into other particles. The newly produced particles may include familiar ones like electrons, muons, and quarks, as well as more exotic particles like W and Z bosons, Higgs bosons, and potentially new particles not yet discovered.
High-Energy Phenomena: The high energies achieved in proton-proton collisions at the LHC allow scientists to study phenomena that occur at smaller length scales or higher energies than what is accessible by previous experiments. These investigations can shed light on the fundamental structure of matter, the nature of the forces between particles, and the unexplored realms of physics.
The collision of protons differs from the collision of electrons primarily due to their masses and the interactions involved. Protons are much heavier than electrons, and their collisions involve the exchange of gluons (the carriers of the strong force) in addition to the electromagnetic interaction. Electrons, being much lighter, predominantly interact electromagnetically. This difference leads to distinct collision dynamics and the production of different particles in the final state.
It's worth noting that the study of particle collisions is a complex field, and the outcomes depend on several factors, including the collision energy, the angles at which the particles collide, and the experimental conditions. Scientists carefully analyze the collision data to extract meaningful information and test theoretical predictions.