The particle accelerator is the largest machine in the world and runs underground in a 27km (17 mile) circumference tunnel on the Franco-Swiss border.
The particle accelerator is the largest machine in the world and runs underground in a 27km (17 mile) circumference tunnel on the Franco-Swiss border.
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Scientists are hoping the second run of the machine will shine a light on some of the universe's more arcane phenomena.
Scientists are hoping the second run of the machine will shine a light on some of the universe's more arcane phenomena.
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A rendered image of the machine showing several parts with an interconnection open.
A rendered image of the machine showing several parts with an interconnection open.
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Professor Peter Higgs, who gives his name to the Higgs boson, stands in front of an image of the collider. Having nailed down the elusive boson particle in 2013, physicists are on the trail of the dark matter.
Professor Peter Higgs, who gives his name to the Higgs boson, stands in front of an image of the collider. Having nailed down the elusive boson particle in 2013, physicists are on the trail of the dark matter.
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The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is scheduled to restart this month and is now tricked out with new magnets, more powerful energy beams and a tighter vacuum.
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is scheduled to restart this month and is now tricked out with new magnets, more powerful energy beams and a tighter vacuum.
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An aerial view of the area surrounding CERN with the outline of the 27km underground tunnel that houses the particle accelerator.
An aerial view of the area surrounding CERN with the outline of the 27km underground tunnel that houses the particle accelerator.
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Beams in the upgraded LHC will be more tightly focused, which will make for more collisions and greater scope to study interactions.
Beams in the upgraded LHC will be more tightly focused, which will make for more collisions and greater scope to study interactions.
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The energy of collisions in the LHC in 2015 will be 13 TeV compared with 8 TeV in 2012 during its last run.
The energy of collisions in the LHC in 2015 will be 13 TeV compared with 8 TeV in 2012 during its last run.
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While the facility is a big industrial user of power -- about 180MW when it's running at full tilt -- it's not quite powerful enough to dim the lights in Geneva. The facility uses the equivalent of 10% of the total power in the Geneva canton.
While the facility is a big industrial user of power -- about 180MW when it's running at full tilt -- it's not quite powerful enough to dim the lights in Geneva. The facility uses the equivalent of 10% of the total power in the Geneva canton.
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The 600 MeV Synchrocyclotron (SC), built in 1957, was CERNs first accelerator. It provided beams for CERNs first experiments in particle and nuclear physics.
The 600 MeV Synchrocyclotron (SC), built in 1957, was CERNs first accelerator. It provided beams for CERNs first experiments in particle and nuclear physics.
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Billions of protons per package are sent hurtling through the collider at a rate of 11,000 times per second, but only 20 or 30 protons per package will actually collide to produce an effect that can be studied.
Billions of protons per package are sent hurtling through the collider at a rate of 11,000 times per second, but only 20 or 30 protons per package will actually collide to produce an effect that can be studied.
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courtesy cern
CERN's Globe of Science and Innovation exhibition centre and the nearby Meyrin site are seen from the air. The surface buildings which provide access and support for the ATLAS experiment, one of four experiments on the LHC, can also be seen on the right.
CERN's Globe of Science and Innovation exhibition centre and the nearby Meyrin site are seen from the air. The surface buildings which provide access and support for the ATLAS experiment, one of four experiments on the LHC, can also be seen on the right.
CERN