The LHC: at the heart of the world’s mysteries [ Return towards  High Tech  ]

The LHC is the world’s most powerful particle accelerator. Composed of a 27-kilometer ring, it has 1,700 superconducting magnets to produce magnetic fields with 100,000 times greater than the earth’s magnetic fields. This tool will help to bring out in the open some important mysteries of fundamental physics: the origin of  matter, the Big Bang theory etc.

Since 1995, Air Liquide’s engineers have been involved in this unique project, which has represented many challenges because of its extraordinary size and technical requirements.
First and foremost a technical and scientific challenge, as they developed all the cryogenic systems to handle the distribution of 100 metric tons of superfluid liquid helium at a temperature of -271° (close to absolute zero) along the 27 kilometers. They also developed the world’s longest and most complex cryogenic distribution line.

Next, an industrial and logistics challenge, because our experts supervised the manufacturing of over 3,000 parts, produced in five factories in four European countries. Last, they met a human challenge by working 100 meters underground, in an area straddling France and Switzerland with access only every three kilometers.