Marcel Merk : Outreach
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Updated:
November 20, 2009
Information on Particle Physics
There are web pages with information for the public available for CERN as well as for Nikhef .
CERN can be visited by the public. More information is here. Also Nikhef organises each year an open dag.
A short explanation about CERN is given in a 3 minute movie. You can also get information via de the CERN "AskAnExpert" web pages and there is a web page available for young children: CERNland.
A nice explanation of one of the most famous quantum mechanical phenomena is given in the youtube clip of "dr. Quantum": the Double Slit Experiment.
Startup of The Large Hadron Collider (LHC)
There are many clips available on YouTube clips when you search for "CERN LHC", a particular entertaining one is the Large Hadron Rap . The following 6-minute video explains how the LHC works
Particles were first sent through the LHC collider ring in August 2008. In September 2008 an accident occurred with the Helium cooling system. An explanation in a YouTube clip can be found of what went wrong with the LHC.
Injection in the ring happened on friday evening November 20, 2009. The latest news can be followed via the CERN twitter page and via the CERN youtube video's. The latest CERN press releases can be seen at the Press Office and images can be seen at the first lhc physics page.
Information on the matter-antimatter asymmetry mystery
One of the objectives of the LHCb experiment is to precisely determine the matter-antimatter asymmetry present in interactions of elementary particles. More information can be obtained from the LHCb experiment public website. Cameras are installed that allow to take a virtual tour in the LHCb experimental area. A news item on the LHC injection test on June 6-7 2009 can be seen on this YouTube video. The latest news on the experiment can be followed via the LHCb Web news screen.
In addition the quest for antimatter is summarized in a brochure (10 Mbyte pdf-file).
CERN offers the possibilities to view live webcasts video clips about particle physics in general and antimatter in particular.
The book "Angels and Demons" from Dan Brown has attracted a lot of public attention to the subject of antimatter. CERN maintains a web-page with facts and fiction in this story. Together with the premiere of the movie CERN has opened a dedicated Angles and Demons web page and a bulletin. There is also a SONY web page about the movie.
Presentations
The following links contain presentations for the public on the topic of antimatter (in Dutch):- Presentation primary school Reijmerstok: Onderzoek aan het aller-grootste en het aller-kleinste, 19 maart 2010, Reijmerstok.
- Studium Generale Universiteit Maastricht: Materie en Antimaterie, 18 maart 2010, Maastricht.
- Studie Dag Octopus: Introductie Nikhef & CERN, Deeltjesfysica met de LHC, 26 Oct, 2009.
- Het Bernini Mysterie: Feiten en Fictie, Nikhef Open Dag, Amsterdam, 10 Oct, 2009 (includes a movie!).
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Feiten en Fictie in Angels & Demons, Tuschinski, Amsterdam, 13 Mei, 2009.
Related articles appeared in the dutch newspapers NRC Next and Parool as well as in the popular scientific paper KIJK. -
Waar is de anti-materie heen? European Master Class, Nikhef, March 19, 2009.
In 2008 as well as 2009, this presentation was recorded by City TV - Primary School Particle Physics, Octopus, Diemen, 26 September, 2008.
- Nikhef Open Dag, Nikhef, 21 October, 2006.
- You can listen to a pod-cast of the "Hoe?zo Kettingvraag" where I try to formulate an answer to the question: Waarom is er zo weinig antimaterie in het heelal?
- Here is a link to a radio interview of the Wereldomroep, on August 7, 2009.