Thought I would do a bit of a write up about this as it always amazes me how things knit together that you weren't expecting...
I've just been incredibly fortunate to spend a week at CERN, quite possibly the worlds premeire particle physics laboratory as part of a programme for UK teachers. The aim is to train up UK teachers knowledge of particle physics, it's theory, applications and technological spin offs - we then cascade this information back to the students to inspire them into careers into science and technology. I went with one of my work colleagues (who incidentally has a PST), we arrived a day early so we could spend sometime looking around their 'Globe' exhibition facility
DSCF2126 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
This is quite possible one of the most stimulating audio visual exhibitions I have ever been in and contains some really quite historic pieces of equipment you will ever come across, there are also exhibits there that have really stretched my concept of what I thouight was science fiction but really are science fact...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11pye4x89DM
DSCF2146 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2131 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2127 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
We spent considerable time learning about and visiting the machines responsible for generating the data that drives our current theories on the universe. It was at this point I started to realise the vast scale of the engineering that goes into all of this: The ATLAS detector is represented in the picture below on the mural on the building which is half scale(!!!)
DSCF2179 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
These things don't actually sit on the surface, they're located 100metres below ground to protect us from their immense magnetic and radioactive fields and to protect their sensors from the effect of cosmic rays...
Their sensors are something else: consider my DMK31 CCD - it has a chip 1/3" across and images at 30fps, I thought that was pretty reasonable till I learned about the sensor they used on their CMS detector. This uses a CCD sensor but is 220m2 - yes 220 metres squared!!! Apparently it is the worlds largest CCD chip. I've not worked it out but the pixel size must be pretty large as this equates to 'only' the equivalent of a 75 mega pixel sensor. Now if you think that is getting astronomical in size consider their sampling rate - 40 million (!!!!) samples or frames per second. That is absolutely gobsmacking 40,000,000 fps!!!
I did some sums to work out the difference in data rate of a DMK31 versus their CMS sensor. It turns out they generate 2x1011 times more date every second than my DMK does. Thats just a silly number - infact it is 200,000,000,000 written as a number if my standard form is right. Mind boggling!!!!
To handle all this data they use 'computer farms' - huge rooms with tens of thousands of computers all wired in parallel with each other.
DSCF2191 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2190 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
This particular room had 20,000 units in it, and plans were to expand to 40,000 units. However despite all these machines they cannot cope with the 95 gigabytes a second CMS produces, and so they employ a 'filtering' system that samples these 40 million frames per second and selects only the best 500 fps. Now I actually think considering all these computers that 500fps is pretty slow, heck i'm sure some of the Basler cams work at a couple of hundred fps (though admittedly they don't have 75Mp sensor!)...
We were also really fortunate to go to the control room of NASAs AMS experiment: This was sent up on the very final shuttle mission and is now installed on the ISS with the task of trying to identify antimatter...
DSCF2276 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2275 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2274 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2273 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2272 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
We even saw the astronauts floating around in the live feed from ISS
DSCF2269 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
Anyway I hear you say, what has all this to do with solar astronomy? Well, it isn't just going away for a week on a geeks jolly, we have to inmplement a variety of things back in the classroom and draw up an action plan, well after much deliberating coupled with some of Switzerlands finest liquid options
DSCF2166 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
we got talking to one of the people
DSCF2326 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
who were delivering the sessions to us, and found out that he is based in the UK when not at CERN and is happy to come into schools and deliver talks to the pupils. He intially told us he delivered a talk on Einstein but further discussions revealed he also specialises in solar physics!!! So, plan is he's free in january so going to get him in for the day to deliver an Einstein and solar physics session, he also specialises in making ice cream with liquid nitrogen. We will run this in conjunction with a solar observing day whereby all participants will receive solar goggles and other goodies courtesy of Stephen. So, all we need is some clear skies on our first outreach day of 2012..
If anybody fancies a look at my pickies from the week they can be found here http://www.flickr.com/photos/56424473@N ... 448367759/
Thanks for looking, will report back on the outreach day in due time!
Mark
CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
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CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
Mark! This is an absolutely awesome recap of the advcenture to CERN!
I am so glad that you posted this because I have always wanted to gothere and check it out. And on my forum too! Wow!
You can link to this if you want to (hint hint---on CN). You dont have to be a member to read the posts on here, just to respond...
I am so glad that you posted this because I have always wanted to gothere and check it out. And on my forum too! Wow!
You can link to this if you want to (hint hint---on CN). You dont have to be a member to read the posts on here, just to respond...
Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA USA
Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
Atlanta, GA USA
Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
Mark! this is incredible, you have had such a wonderful adventure this. I am so jealous, it looks like you got to see some of the worlds most amazing machines and science projects. You have such lucky kids, I wish we had this sort of opportunity when I was at school.
What sort of school lesson is 'Citizenship' by the way?
Regards
Alexandra
PS Don't forget the DMK41 info you were going to send
What sort of school lesson is 'Citizenship' by the way?
Regards
Alexandra
PS Don't forget the DMK41 info you were going to send
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
Thanks Stephen and Alexandra, and thank you for the 'thank you's' Walter and Bill!
Citizenship is subject that deals with issues such as politics, morals, beliefs, rascism etc - it's mandatory in all UK schools now, the government thinks that if all young people take it they will be 'enlightended' and won't go around rioting, looting and mugging pensioners for drug money. It's a subject I have to deliver but if i'm being perfectly honest it's not something I feel myself getting as passionate about as other subjects... :whistle:
Don't worry, not forgot about the tip for the DMK, i'm going to do a bit of a write up here on it
Citizenship is subject that deals with issues such as politics, morals, beliefs, rascism etc - it's mandatory in all UK schools now, the government thinks that if all young people take it they will be 'enlightended' and won't go around rioting, looting and mugging pensioners for drug money. It's a subject I have to deliver but if i'm being perfectly honest it's not something I feel myself getting as passionate about as other subjects... :whistle:
Don't worry, not forgot about the tip for the DMK, i'm going to do a bit of a write up here on it
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
they teach citizenship here in the states too. You would be amazed at how many Americans cannot give you the slightest details on how the government works, who the president is, who can vote, etc... We take so much for granted. Of course I , and I am sure a lot of us served in the US Military so I have a little more appreciation for what it takes to preserve these liberties we all have. But thats another story.... why do you think I have all these tattoos?
Great Story Mark. I am honored that you would take the time to print it here... Of course, I grew up with the Sex Pistols and the Clash playing in my bedroom 24 hours so I will always think of the UK as a bunch or rioting, anarchists looters and lollygaggers...
Great Story Mark. I am honored that you would take the time to print it here... Of course, I grew up with the Sex Pistols and the Clash playing in my bedroom 24 hours so I will always think of the UK as a bunch or rioting, anarchists looters and lollygaggers...
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Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
Atlanta, GA USA
Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
Lol, that's funny Stephen!
I thought I would pop up a few more pics; whilst being lots of fun to go around CERN is definitely a place to be aware of your surroundings. These banks of pc's with their red wires lured me in
DSCF2308 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
However when I looked at the warning sign closely stepped back as I saw the 12Kv warning!
DSCF2309 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
To get into the cavern where the detectors sit it's eyeball recognition technology...
DSCF2318 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
All over the place there are signs that remind you this is no playground...
DSCF2317 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2315 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2313 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2322 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
I thought I would pop up a few more pics; whilst being lots of fun to go around CERN is definitely a place to be aware of your surroundings. These banks of pc's with their red wires lured me in
DSCF2308 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
However when I looked at the warning sign closely stepped back as I saw the 12Kv warning!
DSCF2309 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
To get into the cavern where the detectors sit it's eyeball recognition technology...
DSCF2318 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
All over the place there are signs that remind you this is no playground...
DSCF2317 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2315 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2313 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
DSCF2322 by Mark Townley, on Flickr
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
Hi Mark
great addition. BTW how was the St. Saphorin, I noticed you found beer but how about wine ;-)
great addition. BTW how was the St. Saphorin, I noticed you found beer but how about wine ;-)
Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE
from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
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from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch
from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa
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Re: CERN and Solar Outreach 2012
Great report, very interesting
Robert
Robert
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2024 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/69734017@ ... 0313830045
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