Welcome to the largest accelerator complex in the world, which propels tiny pieces of matter to speeds of up to 99% of the speed of light. Four sophisticated machines form a chain around 15 kilometres long, in which protons, one of the tiny particles that make up matter, travel more than 1.7 million kilometres before being injected into the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC accelerates them further before colliding them about 40 million times per second inside four large detectors.
CERN’s accelerator complex has been shut down since December 2018 to allow major upgrades to take place. After several months of work, the accelerators will gradually be recommissioned. But before their doors are closed, CERN invites you to discover them during an event on Facebook and YouTube, which will be streamed live from the brand new Linac 4 linear accelerator. You will go on the same journey as the particles, accompanied by CERN scientists who will reveal the secrets of these high-performance machines.
On 8 June, CERN will celebrate the third birthday of the CERN Alumni Network. This network of former CERN personnel now has more than 6200 members who share information, help each other out and act as ambassadors for the Laboratory’s values of excellence and cooperation. This birthday celebration will bring together recruiters and CERN-grown talent.