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>aiming for a job at CERN

What university do you go to?

>>4339102
I'm not yet at university. Planning to go to either bath or manchester, though.

>>4339105

To boost your ability to get a job at CERN, it may be wise, after two years or so, to try to transfer to Oxford or Cambridge.

http://b0urpc.fnal.gov/~bjk/particle_physics.html

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy05/phy05049.htm

>>4339109
Thanks for the links. Is it a good sign if I already knew everything in them, or is that redundant at this point?

>>4339097

hey, i was there too
but that was about two years ago

>>4339120
Nice. We didn't move along that far, were you working on it or something?

>>4339117

Well, sure, I suppose. If you're currently in high-school, I'd recommend try teaching yourself some of the physics and mathematics before you go to university.

>>4339105

well i think it would be a little bit early to really determine
I really got to know the different fields just during my BSc


here another one from my trip, shows the over-all control-room

It's very different. I reckon you are interested in the experimental side, there you have the big themes:

- accelerator physics: everything that encompasses building and maintaining the accelerators, optimizing. this is rather engineering-heavy

- detector physics: developing / constructing next-gen detectors and detector concepts to use in the experiments.

- data analysis: number crunching. and we're talking shitload of numbers. Its quite a demanding task to get valuable measurements out of the enormous amount of data that is recorded during experiments. This takes also a shitload of time. you also need to understand the theory behind particle physics to a certain degree to be able to deal with all the data. This is not an automated process. The scientists at CERN don't just hit a button, wait a few hours, and have a button flash that says "higgs boson found!". It is really an intricate part of particle physics.
An experimental particle physicist (at least in the large facilities) is a mixture of these things, and everyone has his or her special area. In smaller experiments, you of course get more time with more aspects of the respective experiment.

>>4339127
Sounds sensible - I'm taking mechanics, physics and chemistry at A-level, but we're apparently not touching on relativity in the former.

Is there anywhere I can learn easily or is it more a case of reading textbooks until you pick it all up?

>>4339128
nice, we didn't see that. How long were you there?

>>4339129
I think I am, given the theoretical side seems to escape me. Thanks for the information.

>>4339123

no, i had - well - connections
but i couldn't go down to the LHC-tunnel, they just were powering up -> far too much radiation...

this pic ist form the tunnel of a smaller accelerator - it was used for the experiment in >>4339120
they were working on trapping a anit-hydrogen-atom, if i recall correctly

>>4339132
Well, if you fix your goal already this early, it saves you a lot of time during your studies and you'll be able to specialize accordingly in your free lectures.

I heavly recommend not to drop too much on the theory side though. The real specializion will happen at PhD stage, try to get some field theory as long as you're an undergrad.

>>4339132

about two days

that one should be familiar - the atlas-control-room
are the ducks still there?

>>4339135
It is (well, was). It was initially called LEAR (Low Energy Antiproton Ring) and made some of the first anti-hydrogen, but in 1996 got repurposed to accelerate protons for the proton synchotron. They still do antihydrogen, but using a different accelerator I can't remember the name of.
>>4339138
None that I saw :(

>>4339139
Antiproton Decelerator (AD for short)

which is also old as shit as well and they're all praying for FAIR

>>4339137

second the second part of your statement - also a theorist should know some experimental basics

your first statement wouln't have worked for me though - i just knew to little about the different fields when i started

the server "room"...

>>4339146
The one thing that really surprised me was how old everything looked. Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt the technology in use is state of the art, but the corridors were extremely 70's.

>>4339147
Oh yeah, I also loved the "tech museum" they had there with the first web-server ever (or so they claimed).

Also, that's what I was trying to say. If you are aware of your "dream job" early on, you have the luxury of planning out your studies more efficiently. I lost a good year because I didn't know what I wanted to do. And even after the masters I made another switch. Oh well.

>>4339152
>(or so they claimed).

Lol, you noticed too?

I enjoyed seeing the first server in that room, then 45 minutes later seeing the first server in the globe. Impressive detailing on the label, I have to say.

>>4339139

:(

well, maybe you get another chance to do a trip over there with someone who works there...

the small piece pointed at in the pic is the one they believe failed when they powered up the first time

did quite some damage

>>4339155
Definitely sucking up to anyone I meet who works there from now on. The place was phenomenally interesting.

1/2 of tim berner's lee's server

Interesting thread, I wanna work at CERN as well, but it's more of a dream than a goal right now, I'll try to get into Cambridge or Oxford in due time though.

>>4339155
>>4339152

yea, that was quite funny :)
just go one pic, though

..aaand the same box in the globe of science and innovation (which is a really nice building)

Protip: if you're soon to be graduating and looking forward to a chance to go to CERN, don't start a new relationship. You're bound to have a shitty time.

>>4339171
Asexual, so that's not much of a concern. And I'm in sixth form (UK equivalent of high school senior, I think)

gotta go, here on last pic
its a bigger picture of >>4339158

it shows the link between the different parts of the LHC-line

really enjoyed that thread...

>>4339082
>Asexual

you dont fap?

>>4339174
Nice, thanks. We skipped that part to save time, unfortunately.
>>4339177
occasionally. I just don't fap to anything

Oh, I totally forgot this great piece of advice.

Fucking. Learn. French.

I am not kidding you. If you don't already speak French, learn it while you can. Apart from your co-workers at CERN, everybode there speaks French ONLY. The guys in the cantina, everyone. It'll make things a lot easier if you know some French.

>>4339178
do any one can get an excursion around CERN and see the LHC ?

>>4339185
if french is not a pressing matter (like to converse with your co-workers) you will learn it in time. its easier to learn it while you are in the envirnment

>>4339192
of course, but you will save a lot of time if you already have been to a few basic courses.

not even mentioning that locals there will really appreciate if you know some basics.

>>4339185
Yeah, I noticed that. Hardly anyone spoke english there, other than the italian guy taking us round.
My french is rusty, but I can work on it. Thank you.

>>4339187
I don't know, wasn't organised by me. They probably won't let one person go round the actual facility on their own but if you can find some way to go with a group you should be able to get a tour. Our group had a few people tagging along.

>>4339195
>been to a few basic courses
yes i agree . this is important