Bestanddeel CERN-OBJ-DE-098 - The LHCb Vertex Locator (VELO) - 2 half disks

1 object

On loan

42 modules like this one surround the collision point inside the LHCb detector. Their role is to measure the tracks of short-lived particles spraying out from the collision and to pinpoint the exact spots where they decay into secondary particles. Some exist for just trillionths of a second before decaying! The silicon modules operate so close to the collision point, they can only be moved into position once the circling particle beams are at their most focused. Otherwise, peripheral particles on the outside of the finer-than-a-hair beam would bore a hole right through them.

Public

Many objects of this database may be borrowed: see the loan conditions.

Height: 30
Depth: 10
Length: 20
Weight: 1 kg

Building Science Gateway

A larger piece also exists, comprising 6 of these elements in a set-up surrounding the collision point. One of the disks is in Microcosm and the other in b.282. Both are reserved for the Science Gateway exhibitions.

Both disks reserved for Science Gateway