Particle Physics

In particle physics, very large detectors are used to study elementary particles. Particles such as protons are accelerated in a particle accelerator, and made to collide with each other. Nikhef is active in ALICE, ATLAS and LHCb at CERN.

eEDM

Researchers at the University of Groningen, part of the Nikhef collaboration, cool and manipulate molecules to study the fundamental interactions and symmetries of the Standard Model of particle physics.

Nikhef's Outreach activities

Want to find out more about our research? On our Outreach website you will find all our outreach activities organised by Nikhef in Amsterdam for the general public, students and teachers. See you at Nikhef!

KM3NeT: Neutrinos

Astroparticle physics

Astroparticle physics combines physics and astronomy. In the cosmos, very strong magnetic fields create what can be considered a ‘natural’ particle accelerator. To perform astrophysics research, scientists ‘just’ need to build the right detectors. Nikhef is active in KM3NeT, Auger, XENON1T/nT and Virgo.

ALICE: Quark-Gluon Plasma

To solve mysteries surrounding quarks and gluons, the ALICE experiment tries to put quarks and gluons into a new state of aggregation at extremely high temperatures. This is the quark-gluon plasma. The researchers study this plasma before the quarks cool down and regroup into ‘normal’ matter.

Technology departments

The technology departments at Nikhef employ about 80 people. They support the scientific projects by designing and building (parts of) detectors, accelerators, readout and control systems, and computer and network infrastructures.