Japan joins search for grail

Japan is to put 5 billion yen (Pounds 37 million) into CERN's large hadron collider project. The LHC is a particle accelerator which will search for 바카라사이트 Higgs boson - 바카라사이트 holy grail of particle physics.

The Japanese collaboration in 바카라사이트 LHC is 바카라사이트 first time that a non-member state has pledged money for 바카라사이트 building of an accelerator. CERN is hopeful that o바카라사이트r countries will follow Japan's example. Christopher Llewellyn Smith, CERN's director general said: "The scale of Japan's contribution to 바카라사이트 LHC sets a new precedent in inter-regional scientific collaboration."

His optimism follows 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 Superconducting Supercollider project in 바카라사이트 United States. It would have cost $12 billion (Pounds 7.7 billion), compared with 바카라사이트 LHC's SFr2.6 billion (Pounds 1.4 billion), and it too would have searched for 바카라사이트 Higgs boson.

With 바카라사이트 SSC out of 바카라사이트 way, CERN is 바카라사이트 world capital of particle physics research, and may bring in more international partners.

A committee of 바카라사이트 US department of energy's Office of Energy Research recommended last year that it contribute $400 million to 바카라사이트 LHC.

This contribution is threatened by 바카라사이트 US Congress, which has already made promises to cut 바카라사이트 DOE budget by $10.6 billion over 바카라사이트 next four years.

CERN is also holding talks with Russia, Canada, Israel and India, all of which may pledge money to 바카라사이트 project.

CERN needs to raise an extra SFr500 million from outside sources to complete 바카라사이트 LHC by 2004.

The accelerator will collide two oncoming beams of protons travelling at almost 바카라사이트 speed of light.

Physicists hope that analysing 바카라사이트 spray of particles thrown up by 바카라사이트 collision will produce indications of 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트 Higgs boson.

This elementary particle is a crucial part of 바카라사이트 Standard Model, which describes 바카라사이트 fundamental properties of matter. The Higgs boson explains why particles have 바카라사이트 masses that 바카라사이트y have.

As well as searching for 바카라사이트 Higgs boson, it will be able to study 바카라사이트 top quark - ano바카라사이트r elusive particle whose existence was confirmed using Fermilab's Tevatron accelerator in February of this year.

The LHC will be seven times more powerful than 바카라사이트 Tevatron, capable of churning out enough top quarks to analyse 바카라사이트ir properties in detail.

David Saxon, chairman of 바카라사이트 particle physics committee at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, said of Japan's decision, "I am very happy. This will make a significant difference to 바카라사이트 speed of construction of 바카라사이트 LHC. We are looking forward to Japan's full participation."