End of the Large Hadron Collider Era
Europe's leading particle‑physics laboratory, CERN, has officially ceased operations of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) following extensive running periods. The decision follows a multi‑year planning process that highlighted the need for a major modernization of the accelerator.
Why the shutdown
The LHC, the most powerful collider to date, will be taken offline to undergo a comprehensive upgrade. The replacement, known as the High‑Luminosity LHC (HL‑LHC), is designed to increase the collision rate by an order of magnitude, enabling the study of much rarer particle interactions.
Timeline and implementation
De‑commissioning is set to begin in summer 2024 and will span several years. Existing magnets, detectors and supporting infrastructure will be dismantled and replaced with newer, higher‑performance components. The HL‑LHC is expected to resume data collection in 2030.
Implications for research
While the pause will temporarily halt data production, scientists anticipate that the long‑term gains will outweigh the short‑term loss. The increased luminosity will allow more precise investigations into unresolved questions such as the nature of dark matter and rare decay processes.
International collaboration
The upgrade is supported by a wide network of European and global research institutions. Ongoing cooperation between CERN, its member states and partners from the United States, Japan and other countries remains a cornerstone of the project.