Vilnius University (VU) received special recognition from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). September 2 by a unanimous decision of the LHCb Collaboration Council, VU was accepted as the new institute of this prestigious experiment. This is a historic moment for the Lithuanian scientific community and an important step in strengthening the country's participation in international scientific projects.
VU participation in the LHCb collaboration
Located in Geneva, CERN is the world's largest particle physics research center. In this organization, scientists conduct experiments to understand the fundamental particles of the Universe and the interactions between them. One of CERN's most important projects is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which allows the study of proton collisions and the search for new particles and phenomena.
On the initiative of the Lithuanian Particle Physics Consortium, the CERN LHCb experimental group - LHCb Vilnius - was established this year at the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnologies of the VU. Mindaugas Sharpis.
He defended his thesis at the University of Bonn, Germany, but since the beginning of this year he has returned to conduct research in Lithuania. During the visit to CERN at the beginning of September, the group leader presented VU's existing and planned infrastructure to the LHCb collaboration council and returned to Lithuania with the council's decision to declare VU's Faculty of Physics as the official CERN LHCb experiment institute.
The significance of the LHCb experiment in VU
This recognition will give VU a unique opportunity to directly participate in one of the world's most important particle physics experiments. VU students and researchers will have access to the data collected by the LHCb detector. In addition, this connection creates an opportunity to participate in the development of the LHCb detector. It will give researchers access to cutting-edge technologies and promote international collaboration. VU students and researchers will be able to go on internships at CERN, participate in high-level trainings and conferences, present their research there and make contacts.
This cooperation with CERN not only strengthens VU's international image, but also opens up new opportunities for Lithuanian science. By becoming a member of the LHCb, VU joins world-class scientific research and helps Lithuania take a more important place in the international scientific arena.
The Lithuanian Particle Physics Consortium, of which Vilnius University is a part, unites the country's scientists who are actively involved in particle physics research. This consortium cooperates with CERN and other international organizations and aims to expand the scope of Lithuanian particle physics research.
