In a paper published in Physical Review Journals, the ALICE collaboration reports measurements that quantify the transmutation of lead into gold in CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
The ALICE team used the detector’s zero degree calorimeters (ZDC) to count the number of photon–nucleus interactions that resulted in the emission of zero, one, two and three protons accompanied by at least one neutron, which are associated with the production of lead, thallium, mercury and gold, respectively. While less frequent than the creation of thallium or mercury, the results show that the LHC currently produces gold at a maximum rate of about 89 000 nuclei per second from lead–lead collisions at the ALICE collision point. Gold nuclei emerge from the collision with very high energy and hit the LHC beam pipe or collimators at various points downstream, where they immediately fragment into single protons, neutrons and other particles. The gold exists for just a tiny fraction of a second.
Since the luminosity in the LHC is continually increasing thanks to regular upgrades to the machines, Run 3 has produced almost double the amount of gold that Run 2 did, but the total still amounts to trillions of times less than would be required to make a piece of jewellery. While the dream of medieval alchemists has technically come true, their hopes of riches have once again been dashed.
Yes, definitely. This is more an interesting side effect and not the main purpose of ALICE. I'll bet I wasn't the only one who had the same idea about turning lead to gold when first reading about...
Yes, definitely. This is more an interesting side effect and not the main purpose of ALICE.
With the dawn of nuclear physics in the 20th century, it was discovered that heavy elements could transform into others, either naturally, by radioactive decay, or in the laboratory, under a bombardment of neutrons or protons. Though gold has been artificially produced in this way before, the ALICE collaboration has now measured the transmutation of lead into gold by a new mechanism involving near-miss collisions between lead nuclei at the LHC.
I'll bet I wasn't the only one who had the same idea about turning lead to gold when first reading about what made for different elements in high school chemistry.
MOM‽ A difference ALICE than my mother, Alice, I think. lol. Although apropos of nothing, Alice's Restaurant featured surprisingly prominently (if rather rarely - but still, more prominently than...
MOM‽
A difference ALICE than my mother, Alice, I think. lol.
Although apropos of nothing, Alice's Restaurant featured surprisingly prominently (if rather rarely - but still, more prominently than one otherwise would probably expect) as we had an old 45 RPM record with it.
I'm glad they specified in the article just how little gold was being produced - that one would need trillions of times as much to produce a small piece of jewelry. But still! To actually do what alchemists had tried for so long is wild. Even as just a side effect.
Key excerpts:
Alright back to the drawing board...
Wasn't this already done before the LHC?
Yes, definitely. This is more an interesting side effect and not the main purpose of ALICE.
I'll bet I wasn't the only one who had the same idea about turning lead to gold when first reading about what made for different elements in high school chemistry.
MOM‽
A difference ALICE than my mother, Alice, I think. lol.
Although apropos of nothing, Alice's Restaurant featured surprisingly prominently (if rather rarely - but still, more prominently than one otherwise would probably expect) as we had an old 45 RPM record with it.
I'm glad they specified in the article just how little gold was being produced - that one would need trillions of times as much to produce a small piece of jewelry. But still! To actually do what alchemists had tried for so long is wild. Even as just a side effect.