atom smasher
Subatomic collision machine
Atom smasher is an informal term for a particle accelerator—a machine that propels subatomic particles to extremely high speeds and smashes them together or into targets.
Scientists use atom smashers to study the fundamental building blocks of matter by observing what emerges from these collisions.
The term dates from the early days of nuclear physics and remains in popular use, though researchers typically say particle accelerator or collider.
European nuclear research organization
- LHCMassive subatomic collision facility
- cyclotronSpiral-path particle accelerator
- synchrotronCircular charged-particle accelerator
- acceleratorSpeed control mechanism
collider · detector · magnet · ring · tunnel · superconductor · vacuum · laboratory
Fundamental matter particle
- leptonFundamental particle without strong interactions
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- electronNegative subatomic particle
boson · fermion · hadron · muon · gluon · neutrino · meson · baryon
Object of pursuit
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
jet · shower · luminosity · cross-section · impact · fragmentation · spray · debris
Systematic investigation procedure
- discoveryAct of finding something
- physicsScience of matter and energy
- dataFacts for analysis
- analysisMethodical study of parts
measurement · theory · standard model · quantum · Nobel · antimatter · symmetry · hypothesis
CERN
European nuclear research organization
- LHCMassive subatomic collision facility
- cyclotronSpiral-path particle accelerator
- synchrotronCircular charged-particle accelerator
accelerator · collider · detector · magnet · ring · tunnel · superconductor · vacuum · laboratory · Brookhaven
quark
Fundamental matter particle
- leptonFundamental particle without strong interactions
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
electron · boson · fermion · hadron · muon · gluon · neutrino · meson · baryon · antiparticle
target
Object of pursuit
- scatteringDistribution in many directions
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- decayGradual organic breakdown
interaction · jet · shower · luminosity · cross-section · impact · fragmentation · spray · debris · byproduct
experiment
Systematic investigation procedure
analysis · measurement · theory · standard model · quantum · Nobel · antimatter · symmetry · hypothesis · publication
- yo-yo trickssleeper, walk the dog, around the world, trapeze, loop the loop
- acceleratorsparticle accelerator, linear accelerator, cyclotron, synchrotron, collider
- Nuclear Armsnuclear arms, nukes, nuclear warheads, hydrogen bombs, H-bombs
atom smasherfusion reactor
Machine combining atomic nuclei
nuclear reactor · tokamak · breeder reactor · fission reactor · nuclear power plant
smash, atom, atomic, smashing, atoms, atomize, subatomic, atomized, smasher