One exabyte of experimental data has now been gathered from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), marking a major milestone for CERN’s storage system. This achievement underscores the immense scale and complexity of data management at the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator.
The LHC, located near Geneva, Switzerland, smashes billions of protons together every second. By collecting information about the ensuing particle showers, physicists can test the Standard Model of particle physics and search for signs of new phenomena beyond it. The challenge for analysts is the sheer quantity of data generated, necessitating a sophisticated data management strategy.
Managing the Data Deluge
To handle the overwhelming volume of data, CERN employs a highly selective filter system known as a trigger. This system removes all but a tiny fraction of the data collected by the detectors, allowing only the most relevant information to proceed to the CERN storage system for analysis by scientists.
After more than 15 years of operation, the LHC has contributed to CERN’s collection and storage of one exabyte of experimental data. To put this into perspective, a standard single-layer DVD holds 4.7 gigabytes of data, or around two hours of video. Thus, watching an exabyte of film would take nearly 50,000 years.
The Importance of Data Preservation
Storing and preserving this vast amount of data is crucial, as analysis may be conducted long after the data has been collected, sometimes even decades later. Most of the data is stored using magnetic tape, a cost-effective, secure, and stable means of archiving digital data. This technology has evolved significantly since its use in the 1980s’ 8-track cassettes and can now store much more data.
“We’ve reached one exabyte, which is an impressive milestone, but it doesn’t end here,” said Jakub Mościcki, leader of CERN’s Storage and Data Management group. “This is only 10% of what we will have to store and process in the next 10 years, so we have a huge challenge ahead.”
Preparing for the Future
CERN is currently preparing for the High-Luminosity LHC, expected to come online in the mid-2030s. This upgraded collider will generate ten times more data than the current LHC, presenting a significant challenge for CERN’s Data Centre.
The announcement comes as CERN continues to innovate and expand its capabilities in data management. The organization is confident that, with past experience and ongoing technological advancements, it will be ready to meet the challenges posed by the upcoming data deluge.
Meanwhile, the milestone of reaching one exabyte of data storage not only highlights CERN’s current achievements but also sets the stage for future breakthroughs in particle physics. As scientists continue to analyze this data, the potential for discovering new physics remains vast and exciting.
Looking forward, CERN’s efforts in data management will be crucial in ensuring that the scientific community can continue to explore the fundamental nature of the universe, unlocking new insights and advancing our understanding of the cosmos.
