http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider
As with previous particle accelerators, people both inside and outside the physics community have voiced concern that the LHC might trigger one of several theoretical disasters capable of destroying the Earth or even the entire Universe. This has raised controversy as to reason to risk the universe.
Though the standard model predicts that LHC energies are far too low to create black holes, some nonstandard theories lower the requirements, and predict that the Large Hadron Collider will create tiny black holes. The primary cause for concern is the fact that Hawking Radiation - the only means by which these black holes could be dissipated, is entirely theoretical. In academia Hawking Radiation is considered plausible, but there remains considerable question of whether it is correct.
Other disaster scenarios typically involve the following theoretical events:
- Creation of strange matter that is more stable than ordinary matter
- Creation of magnetic monopoles that could catalyze proton decay.
- Creation of a strangelet
CERN has pointed out that the probability of such events is extremely small. An argument for the safety of colliders such as the LHC comes from the assertion that if the Earth were in danger of any such fate, it would have happened billions of years ago from the bombardment of protons, other particles and rays the Earth and the Moon receive that are millions of times more energetic than anything that could be produced by the LHC., obviously without causing catastrophes.
Quantum calculations presented in the CERN report predict that:
- Any black holes created by the LHC are not expected to be stable and will not accrete matter
- Monopoles that can catalyse the decay of matter will quickly exit the Earth.
Log in to comment