Linear accelerator mimics incredibly energetic particles hitting atmosphere
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 - 09:31
in Astronomy & Space
(Phys.org) —In a SLAC test facility, scientists have set the stage for an experiment that mimics what happens when incredibly energetic particles hit our atmosphere. The players include the lab's historic linear accelerator, a 13-foot-long, 3-D jigsaw puzzle built from 3,000 pounds of white plastic blocks, giant radio antennas that once floated over Antarctica and powerful magnetic coils, two of which recently made a cameo appearance on The Big Bang Theory.