Mark Thomson, a Cambridge University professor of experimental particle physics, is about to take the reins as Cern's new director general. What sets his appointment apart is that it coincides with one of the most crucial moments in the LHC's life cycle - its five-year shutdown for an upgrade, which will effectively turn off the machine until the end of his tenure.
This shutdown marks a pivotal moment in Thomson's time at Cern, as he prepares to oversee the next major phase of the high-luminosity LHC project. This upgrade promises to squeeze the proton beams, making them brighter and increasing collisions tenfold. Detectors will be strengthened too, allowing scientists to better capture signs of new physics.
Thomson is well aware that this upgrade won't just revolutionize our understanding of particles but could potentially uncover answers to fundamental questions in physics - such as why elementary particles gain mass from the Higgs field or how Higgs bosons interact with each other. However, there's still much uncertainty surrounding these theories.
Beyond his role at Cern, Thomson will have a hand in navigating the future of particle physics beyond the LHC's current lifespan. This entails deciding on plans for an even more massive machine, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), which promises to surpass the LHC in size and energy capabilities.
While the engineering challenges are daunting, Cern member states must also contend with funding concerns. Since they cannot cover the full cost of the FCC alone, international collaboration will be essential to make this ambitious project a reality.
Despite these complexities, Thomson remains committed to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge about the universe's most fundamental aspects. "We've not got to the point where we have stopped making discoveries," he emphasizes, stressing that now is far from the right time to give up on further scientific exploration.
This shutdown marks a pivotal moment in Thomson's time at Cern, as he prepares to oversee the next major phase of the high-luminosity LHC project. This upgrade promises to squeeze the proton beams, making them brighter and increasing collisions tenfold. Detectors will be strengthened too, allowing scientists to better capture signs of new physics.
Thomson is well aware that this upgrade won't just revolutionize our understanding of particles but could potentially uncover answers to fundamental questions in physics - such as why elementary particles gain mass from the Higgs field or how Higgs bosons interact with each other. However, there's still much uncertainty surrounding these theories.
Beyond his role at Cern, Thomson will have a hand in navigating the future of particle physics beyond the LHC's current lifespan. This entails deciding on plans for an even more massive machine, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), which promises to surpass the LHC in size and energy capabilities.
While the engineering challenges are daunting, Cern member states must also contend with funding concerns. Since they cannot cover the full cost of the FCC alone, international collaboration will be essential to make this ambitious project a reality.
Despite these complexities, Thomson remains committed to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge about the universe's most fundamental aspects. "We've not got to the point where we have stopped making discoveries," he emphasizes, stressing that now is far from the right time to give up on further scientific exploration.
I'm so nervous for Mark Thomson, taking over as director general at Cern during this super critical moment in LHC's life cycle... it's like, he's not only preparing to upgrade an already powerful machine, but also diving into the unknowns of new physics discoveries 
. Can you imagine the weight of responsibility on his shoulders? 
Still, I love that he's keeping the spirit of curiosity alive, saying we shouldn't give up on scientific exploration just yet 
. It's gonna be fascinating to see how this upgrade and future projects unfold... Cern is in good hands with him at the helm 
this is like, so interesting... I mean, can you even imagine what new physics could be discovered with a machine 10 times brighter than the LHC? The Higgs boson thing is still super unclear to me but it's mind-blowing that we're actually trying to figure out how particles gain mass. And oh man, the FCC project sounds like a behemoth of engineering challenges... funding and all that 
& im all about it. ppl might say hes taking on too much but i think thats what makes him perfect 4 the job. he's got the brains n the passion to tackle these mind-blowing questions 
I'm a bit concerned about Mark Thomson's appointment as Cern's new director general, considering it's happening during one of the LHC's most critical phases. The five-year shutdown for upgrades might just be too much pressure for him to handle, especially since he'll be overseeing the high-luminosity LHC project and potentially making decisions on the Future Circular Collider (FCC). 
Let's see how he handles it - one thing is for sure, though: there are so many unanswered questions in physics that need exploring! 
I mean, who knows what secrets are gonna be uncovered in those detectors? 
It's pretty cool to think about all the questions being answered (or maybe even more asked) with this new upgrade... and the fact that Thomson is on board makes me feel hopeful 
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. it's like, Cern member states gotta put aside their differences and come together to make this happen... but also, can they really afford it? 
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. It's crazy that this timing coincides with one of the most critical moments in the LHC's life cycle - its five-year shutdown for an upgrade, which will basically turn off the machine until his tenure is up. That upgrade promises to be a game-changer, making proton beams brighter and increasing collisions tenfold 
. It's like throwing a player into a high-stakes game when you're already halfway through the match 
️. Don't get me wrong, he seems knowledgeable and all 
Maybe he's got the vision for what's next, but I wish there was more transparency on how he plans to keep us scientists in the loop 
It's not just about understanding particles, it's about unraveling some of the universe's biggest mysteries. I'm so curious to see what he and his team come up with 
! I mean, don't get me wrong, he's all about pushing boundaries and discovery, but doesn't that come at the expense of actual progress? Like, do we really need five more years without LHC results?! 
. How much money is Cern gonna lose when it eventually turns off the machine for good 
. still, gotta give him credit, the guy seems passionate about pushing the boundaries of human knowledge about the universe 
That'd be lit 
.
I'm curious to see how they're gonna make it work with international collaboration though... it sounds like they'll need some serious financial support from governments worldwide 
. and let's be real, the fact that we're talking about the Future Circular Collider (FCC) makes me want to geek out all over again 
- those engineering challenges sound like a major headache 
but if anyone can pull it off, Thomson seems like the perfect guy for the job 
! But, I gotta say, this upgrade promise is 
! Not to mention, the potential answers to fundamental questions in physics are 
. And, yeah, funding concerns 
! Can you imagine what could be discovered during those 5 years 
. Big deal for particle physics, but I guess it's kinda cool they're upgrading the LHC 
. I mean, I'm all for pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and all that jazz, but can we please have some concrete details before getting too hyped