1999, the scientists stated that Elementary theoretical considerations suggest that the most dangerous type of collision is that at considerably lower energy than RHIC. That assessment referenced RHICs original design energy of 100 GeV. Over the years, lower-energy experiments were performed, and the 2014 run will include three weeks at 7.3 GeV. Johnson and Baram are concerned that these changes might increase the possibility that the collider will generate strangelets, hypothetical particles consisting of up, down, and strange quarks. Some hypotheses suggest that strangelet production could ignite a chain reaction converting everything into strange matter. In their opinion piece, Johnson and Baram quote Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, who stated that the Earth would then become an inert hyperdense sphere about one hundred metres across. Along with other critics concerned with safety, Johnson and Baram are concerned that the original risk assessment in 1999 was biased because all of the committee members were either planning to participate in RHIC experiments or had a deep interest in the RHICs data. The diversity of the new commission may allow it to overcome that problem. Since the new commission will reflect a broad range of expertise in science, engineering, management, and finance, Johnson and Baram think that this gathering of talent is a unique opportunity to ensure the RHIC gets the rigorous, independent risk analysis it has long warranted. The luminosity upgrade, along with other evolutions of the RHIC program—including running collisions at different energies—suggests that the question of risk needs a fresh look, Johnson told Phys.org. For example, one of the reassurances given in the original safety report in 1999 was that the RHIC would run at a relatively high energy that would make strangelet formation less likely. But now the RHIC is being run at much lower energies. So, a re-evaluation is in order. Bottom line, I cant say whether or not the RHIC program is so risky that it should be shut down. But I do think its clear that the original safety assessment lacked independence and that it is now woefully outdated. The Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories is an opportunity to look at the issue in a fair and complete way. In the end, the dilemma raises the question of whether and how to perform unbiased low-probability, high-impact risk assessment for large science experiments—and whether its possible to achieve this feat in a way that satisfies everyone. Read more at: phys.org/news/2014-02-chances-particle-collider-strangelets-earth.html#jCp phys.org/news/2014-02-chances-particle-collider-strangelets-earth.html
Posted on: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 00:21:32 +0000
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