Premier Zhou Enlai saw the need. He knew China needed to prioritize high energy physics. IHEP was born from this vision. Today we stand before the Institute of High Energy Physics. It is China’s biggest laboratory for particle physics study. IHEP seeks to understand the universe. It delves into fundamental levels. These range from subatomic particles to the cosmos’ structure.
IHEP’s story began humbly. It started as Division One. This division belonged to the Institute of Atomic Energy. In February 1973, IHEP became a separate research institute. Zhang Wenyu became its first Director.
Since then, IHEP has grown significantly. It is now a major player in international particle physics. It also hosts experiments in materials science and biology.
Over 1400 full-time staff work at IHEP. More than 500 postdocs and graduate students contribute too. Particle physics thrives on collaboration. IHEP partners with institutions worldwide.
IHEP’s main campus is in Beijing. It’s located on Yuquan Road. Here you will find key facilities. The Beijing Electron-Positron Collider resides here. Also, the BESIII experiment takes place here. The Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility is here too. Most of IHEP’s staff work here.
The Beijing Electron-Positron Collider II is vital. Known as BEPCII, it is IHEP’s main accelerator. It smashes electrons and positrons together. It operates in the tau-charm energy region. BEPCII has a design luminosity of 1 × 1033 cm-2s-1 at 1.89 GeV. This is a massive improvement. It’s a factor of 100 over its predecessor, BEPC.
BEPCII has two modes. It can collide particles for BESIII experiments. Or, it can produce synchrotron radiation. This provides beams for the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility.
The original BEPC completed construction in 1988. It was China’s first high-energy particle accelerator. The upgrade to BEPCII started in 2004. Construction finished in 2008. It began running in 2009. In 2016, BEPCII reached its design luminosity. It set a world record for its energy range.
BEPCII has produced vast samples of particles. These include J/ψ and ψ’ events. The BESIII experiment made discoveries using these. One notable discovery was the Zc(3900).
IHEP also operates sites elsewhere. There is a campus in Dongguan. This is home to the China Spallation Neutron Source. IHEP also runs experiment sites. They are at Daya Bay and Jiangmen. Yangbajing in Tibet is another site. Daocheng in Sichuan is yet another.
In March 2012, a major breakthrough occurred. The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment discovered a new neutrino oscillation. Science magazine called it one of the top ten breakthroughs of 2012. In July 2013, President Xi Jinping visited IHEP. This highlighted IHEP’s importance to China.
From humble beginnings to world-class research. IHEP stands as a testament to vision and collaboration. It shows China’s commitment to scientific advancement. As we conclude our visit, remember that IHEP continues to push boundaries. It seeks to unlock the universe’s deepest secrets.