Scientists in shock as they find the ghost haunting the world’s most famous particle accelerator

Scientists in shock as they find the ghost haunting the world’s most famous particle accelerator

Scientists in shock as they find the ghost haunting the world’s most famous particle accelerator

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In a recent study, researchers from CERN in Switzerland and Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany have identified a mysterious resonance effect —dubbed a “ghost”— that influences how particles move inside the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS).

But don’t expect any paranormal activity —this so-called ghost is actually a complex 3D shape that changes over time, meaning the best way to measure it is in four dimensions.

And here’s the twist: the same principle behind this strange particle behavior is what causes you to spill your coffee while walking, or why you send your friends flying on a trampoline with a well-timed bounce. In other words, physics is full of surprises, and some of them might just haunt your experiments!

CERN’s Particle Accelerator: Old but still packing a punch

The Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) might date back to the 1970s, but don’t let its age fool you —it’s still a key player at CERN. This massive ring, stretching nearly four miles across, has been at the heart of groundbreaking physics research for decades.

In 2019, the SPS got a major upgrade with a new beam dump, which is basically the particle accelerator equivalent of a runaway truck ramp —a system designed to safely absorb high-energy beams when they need to be stopped.

So, when scientists noticed something unusual happening inside the accelerator —a strange “ghost” affecting particle movement— they knew it wasn’t something to ignore. Mapping and understanding this unexpected phenomenon became a top priority for future experiments. After all, even in cutting-edge physics, it turns out some ghosts are worth chasing.

A “Ghost” born from resonance — And a lesson in spilled coffee

The so-called ghost inside the SPS isn’t supernatural —it’s all about resonance. When energy moves in waves, those waves can interact, sometimes amplifying each other in ways that create unexpected hotspots of energy.

Think about carrying a cup of coffee —each step sends ripples through the liquid, and if those waves sync up just right (or wrong), your coffee sloshes over the edge. Or picture a trampoline —if one person times their jump perfectly with someone else’s, they can bounce much higher than expected.

Inside the SPS, something similar happens. But instead of spilled lattes or super bounces, particles lose vital energy in a process called beam degradation (there’s a name for everything, isn’t there?). In other words, the same physics that ruins your morning coffee can also mess with high-energy particle beams—just on a much bigger (and far nerdier) scale.

Resonance: From particle beams to nuclear fusion

In particle accelerator physics, understanding resonance and nonlinear dynamics isn’t just helpful —it’s essential to prevent losing precious beam particles, the researchers explain in their paper. The challenge? The more moving parts involved, the trickier it gets. Every component, connection, and structure in the system generates its own unique vibrations, adding layers of complexity.

For high-energy proton beams, beam degradation is a major headache—especially as they become more powerful and intense. And it’s not just a problem in particle accelerators. Any system where particles interact inside a confined space—like the tokamaks used in nuclear fusion research—can experience harmonic interference.

In fusion reactors, these pesky harmonics can create dead zones, where the energy stream loses crucial heat, making it even harder to sustain a stable reaction. In other words, whether you’re smashing protons or trying to bottle the power of the sun, fighting off energy-draining “ghosts” is part of the job.

A particle’s journey: More than just a straight shot

Inside the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS), particles technically only have two degrees of freedom, which might sound pretty straightforward. But just like light traveling through a fiber optic cable, things get a little more interesting. While these SLS photons follow a general path, they can also bounce around within it, since even the most precisely focused beam still has some width.

Now, the SPS isn’t exactly a thick donut, but it is a real, physical loop, not just a perfect circle drawn in a geometry textbook. And just like in physics —and breakfast—a donut is always more complicated than it looks.

CERN’s Particle Accelerator isn’t always open for public visits, but wouldn’t it make the perfect haunted house for Halloween? Scientists may have uncovered the science behind eerie sensations, but we’ll keep believing in ghosts anyway!