The storied Tevatron particle collider, the most powerful machine of its kind in the U.S. and for many years in the world, will smash its final protons and antiprotons Friday.
The collider, which broke ground in 1968 (my Dad was there, and I worked there during high school and college), which came online in 1983, accelerates particles to near light speed on a six-kilometer racetrack before steering them into head-on collisions.
But the Tevatron has been eclipsed by Europe’s larger, more powerful Large Hadron Collider, which finally powered up two years ago after a series of delays.
In its 28 years of operation the Tevatron made countless contributions to particle physics.
Farewell Friend.
I spent quite alot of time at Fermilab when I lived in Chicago. It is sad to see the Tevatron go. The contributions it has made are priceless. You are lucky to have been a small part of it. History was made there.
ReplyDeleteThe future for the site? Please tell me not an underground skateboard park...
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I have only read of it, never thought I would actually read someone who worked there. I rememeber the talk of it. 'It is an Atomic Bomb' waiting to happen! There was a lot of hysteria in our area, that soon died when all got quite and Illinois stayed on the map.
ReplyDeleteYep, now it is history! WOW!
I am not familiar with this Tevatron, can you give me a brief introduction to it??
ReplyDelete