Input
26 GeV proton bunches
Stage 4 of 5
SPS
The Super Proton Synchrotron expands beam energy and stabilizes timing. It is the final injector stage in this chain, linking the injector complex to the LHC.
Process
Large-scale synchrotron acceleration and final transfer prep
Output
450 GeV proton bunches
Energy
~450 GeV
Interactive simulator
How the beam moves through this stage.
Transfer optics and gap filling are reduced to one final synchronized push.
Particleproton
Energy~450 GeV
Beam formatbunch
Speed (v / c)99.999784%
At this energy the proton travels about 299,792 km/s — 99.999784% of the speed of light (c = 299,792 km/s). Past this point more energy barely raises the speed; it pours into momentum instead.
Scale note
Much larger ring envelope than PS
Key terms
Synchrotron, and Bunch.
What happens, in order
- 01Input26 GeV proton bunches
- 02ProcessLarge-scale synchrotron acceleration and final transfer prep
- 03Output450 GeV proton bunches
Key terms: Synchrotron, and Bunch.
Quick facts
Technology
Large synchrotron
Chain position
Last stage before LHC
critical energy boost
Output
LHC injection beam
Distance cue
Conceptually one of the biggest rings in the chain
Sources
Where these numbers come from.
- 01
CERN Super Proton Synchrotron
https://home.cern/science/accelerators/super-proton-synchrotron/Official machine page used for the SPS transfer stage and fixed-target context.
- 02
CERN Accelerator Complex overview
https://home.cern/science/accelerators/Official public summary used for accelerator principles, beamline framing, and the CERN accelerator network.
Guided tour
Guided learning path
Four steps: follow the beam, see the aftermath, compare with spacetime signals, then test your intuition.
- 01 · You are here
Follow the beam
Start with the injector chain so the rest of the site follows a physical sequence.
Open - 02 · Next
See the collision aftermath
See which detectors catch which particles after a collision.
Open - 03 · Next
Compare with spacetime signals
Switch to gravitational waves: tune mass, distance, and noise to find the signal.
Open - 04 · Next
Test your intuition
Short quizzes on accelerator ordering, detector choice, and signal tuning.
Open