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Scientists work by posing important new questions about the natural world.
They develop theories, and invent tools and techniques to answer their
questions and test their theories. Particle physicists are scientists who
develop and test theories about the smallest particles of matter. Fermilab
physicists create particles by accelerating protons and making them
collide with particle targets. Sometimes the protons collide with fixed
particle targets (hydrogen ions, iron, tungsten, for example); sometimes
the protons collide head on with moving anti-protons. These collisions (also called
events) create new particles. Scientists record and study how the newly
created particles move away (or scatter) from the collision. By observing
this behavior, scientists can learn about the particles and the forces
that control their interactions, and sometimes discover particles not seen
before. |
