The Modern Alchemy: CERN's LHC Turns Lead into Gold

A Glimpse into Nuclear Transmutation at CERN

The dream of transforming lead into gold, a quest long pursued by medieval alchemists, has taken an intriguing turn in the realm of modern physics. At CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), physicists have successfully demonstrated a form of nuclear transmutation—converting lead nuclei into gold nuclei during high-energy particle collisions.

Understanding the Process

During these experiments, lead nuclei are accelerated to nearly the speed of light within the 27-kilometer tunnel of the LHC. When these nuclei come dangerously close to one another, they generate powerful electromagnetic fields that can eject protons from the nuclei. To create gold, which has 79 protons, scientists noted that three protons must be stripped from the lead nuclei, which originally hold 82 protons.

Scientific Findings

In findings published by the ALICE collaboration, researchers noted that during the LHC's Run 2 (2015-2018), approximately 86 billion gold nuclei were produced. However, the resulting mass of gold was minuscule, only about 29 picograms (2.9 × 10^-11 g)—an amount so small it is trillions of times less than what would be required for even a solitary piece of jewelry. Moreover, this transmuted gold exists fleetingly, only lasting for a fraction of a second before disintegrating upon colliding with the LHC's infrastructure.

The Implications

While the notion of a gold rush at CERN might be fanciful, the implications of this research extend beyond ancient aspirations. The experiment enhances our understanding of high-energy nuclear interactions and provides crucial data that could improve future particle colliders. It also serves to refine theoretical models related to electromagnetic dissociation, which are instrumental in understanding beam losses—an important factor limiting the performance of the LHC and future colliders.

A Modern Fulfillment of an Ancient Quest

CERN's findings can be perceived as a modern fulfillment of the ancient alchemists' dream, albeit on a subatomic scale rather than in the form of wealth. As researchers analyze the production rates and characteristics of these fleeting gold nuclei, they achieve critical insights into the workings of fundamental particles and the forces governing them.

While the gold produced at the LHC may not line the pockets of alchemists or physicists, it undeniably marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the universe and the intricate powers of particle physics.