Made-in-Canada super deep freezers elevate Canadian science on the world stage

Government of Canada announces $10 million to build a sophisticated icebox to help unravel the mysteries of the universe

VANCOUVER, June 25, 2018 /CNW/ - Scientists understand that the path to a eureka moment begins with collaboration. From academic papers published by research teams from different countries to enormous, multinational efforts to unravel the mysteries of the universe, science brings about benefits when people of diverse backgrounds come together to answer basic and applied research questions.

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, today announced that the government is enhancing Canada's place on the world stage with a $10-million investment in the most powerful particle accelerator in the world.

The investment will help upgrade the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), an international laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. The funding will provide Canadian researchers with ongoing access to this international lab and put Canadian science and technology at the heart of a global experiment to reveal the origins and nature of our universe. Canadian experts at Vancouver's TRIUMF lab will lead the production of key elements for the accelerator with a $2 million in-kind contribution for a total project value of $12 million.

The funding will be used to build five superconducting crab cavity cryomodules—the components of what can be described as very sophisticated super deep freezers that house the crab cavities. When installed at CERN, the cryomodules will cool down the subatomic particles to just above absolute zero, allowing researchers to manipulate these particles before they smash together. This means Canadian science and technology are at the heart of a global experiment to reveal the origins and nature of our universe.

These super deep freezers are mission critical for the crab cavities to manipulate and rotate bunches of subatomic particles before they smash together—a crucial step to enable researchers to significantly increase the number of collisions of the LHC. Canadians will build and provide the parts for these super deep freezers. Canadian industry, including companies in British Columbia, will be involved in the production of these high-tech components.

The LHC, located on the Franco-Swiss border, accelerates particles along a 27 km ring that runs 100 m underground. The LHC was instrumental in the discovery of the Higgs boson particle in 2012, a subatomic particle that offers insight into the origins of the universe. 

Today's investment means more opportunities for skills training and well-paying jobs in the manufacturing and research fields.  

Quotes

"Great science knows no borders. Great scientists know that success lies in strong collaboration. The Canadian science community is internationally recognized and valued as an important leader and partner in particle physics. By supporting our outstanding researchers, engineers and technicians, we enable them to work with our international partners to further our reputation as a global leader in particle physics. Their hard work will take us one step closer to understanding the fundamental nature of matter while delivering new technologies, training and job opportunities for the next generation."
- The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

"By contributing to the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider, Canada will secure its place in what will be one of the largest and most important physics projects in coming decades. From illuminating dark matter to discovering new particles and forces, Canadians will work alongside scientists from many nations. Through this work, Canada will increase its capacity for innovation and economic growth. And TRIUMF is happy to help."
- Dr. Jonathan Bagger, Director of TRIUMF

"We are very pleased with Canada's contribution to the LHC project, which is another important milestone in a long-standing, fruitful collaboration with CERN. The technology and expertise of TRIUMF and Canadian industries, working with the strong particle physics community in the country, will be crucial in building very ambitious accelerator components for the next major project at CERN."
- Dr. Fabiola Gianotti, Director-General of CERN

Quick facts

• Canada has a number of existing collaborations with CERN through TRIUMF, SNOLAB and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
• Around 200 Canadian researchers are involved in CERN's ATLAS project, which is investigating a wide range of physics topics, from the Higgs boson to dark matter.
• TRIUMF is Canada's particle accelerator centre, a hub for discovery and innovation where multidisciplinary research teams collaborate with Canadian and international partners to push the frontiers of research to advance science, medicine and business. TRIUMF is home to the Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory (ARIEL), a flagship Canadian multidisciplinary research facility that will broaden the country's research capabilities in particle physics, nuclear physics, nuclear medicine and materials science.
• Founded in 1954, the CERN laboratory was one of Europe's first joint ventures. It is located on the Franco-Swiss border, near Geneva.

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Ann Marie Paquet, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Science, 613-404-2733, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]