Physics at CERN

Switzerland: Geneva
Europe’s center for particle physics research is CERN, located outside Geneva, Switzerland crossing the French/Swiss border. CERN is the home of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s highest energy particle accelerator. The LHC is 17 miles in circumference and about 100 meters underground. Scientists at CERN and associated universities and laboratories conduct research into the most basic questions – where do we come from and what are we made of?

As a participant on this program, you will have the opportunity to visit several of the major experiments (such as CMS, Atlas, Alice, etc), tour some of the accelerator facilities, explore the numerous interactive exhibits, live in dormitories on the lab, and talk with scientists at the lab. FSU’s high energy physicists have worked on the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment since its beginnings. The experiment weighs 12,000 tons and is approximately 15m tall (about 2/3 the height of the Keen building).

In addition to a week at CERN, students will also visit the United Nations, tour some of the cultural attractions of Geneva, and take a train to Bern, Switzerland’s capital, where you will visit the apartment of Albert Einstein during his miraculous year of publication of 1905.

All students must be enrolled in PHZ 4390 during the spring, 2013 semester. The course registration procedures will be conducted through International Programs, which will require a special course code at the time of registration. Class meetings will be held in Tallahassee throughout the spring semester.

Eligibility
Students must be Physics or Physical Science majors at Florida State University, enrolled in the above mentioned course on campus during spring, 2013. Please see the University Bulletin or contact the Physics Department or the College of Education for more details concerning eligibility.

Housing
Program participants will be housed in shared accommodation in Geneva.

Areas of Study:

• Physical Science Majors
• Physics