Fermilab

If you have anytime to answer this I would much appreciate it. I kind of have a dream. I want to prove the existence of something. To fulfill this dream of mine I want to create a singularity. Although I'm almost positive you will know what this is, just incase. From the definition that I know I believe that the singularity is a point in space where mass=infinity. These points are commonly associated with blackholes. Also where the universe began and where it is theorized it will end. I want to do this using a particle accelerator. Please don't underestimate me, I'm a sophmore in high school who is taking Analytical Geometry and Calculus. I really wish to try and build something but I don't have the knowledge of the parts..and there lamens' terms. For example like the particle source...and what a particle source that can be used is. Schematics would be MUCH appreciated if you are allowed to do that sort of thing. Also I would like to know how the sensors and such in the accelerators work. If you could help me with these things, it would be greatly appreciated. Schematics for any and all parts necessary WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you so much for any help. Try to respond A.S.A.P.

-Joseph

Hi Joseph,

The question as to whether black holes could be created by particle accelerators has been debated for a long time. In "usual" theories of quantum gravity, it would require energies of single particles that are far out of the range of existing or planned accelerators. Recently theorists have uncovered a class of theories (involving "extra dimensions" in addition to (X,Y,Z, and Time) ) that might allow this to happen at a much lower energy, perhaps even at the next generation of particle accelerators. A recent article discussing this is at:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/011004/011004-8.html

So what is needed to make this (or something else equally spectacular) happen is a continuing stream of good ideas on making better accelerators. Some good (college level) texts on accelerators are available online at:
http://www.eece.unm.edu/faculty/humphrie/cpa/cpa.htm
http://preprints.cern.ch/cernrep/1994/94-01/94-01_v1.html

You will have to kick butt on your calculus, and have at least a peek at a college level physics text, to get the most out of these texts. But don't give up! Smart people have been thinking hard about accelerators for awhile, and one of the fun things about accelerators is to study what they have done, then come up with improvements by yourself. Sounds like you could become one of those people!

-Bill Foster
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

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