Overview
- The ALICE collaboration at CERN confirmed the creation of 86 billion gold nuclei during LHC Run 2 (2015–2018), as published in *Physical Review C* on May 7, 2025.
- Gold nuclei were produced via near-miss electromagnetic dissociation, where high-speed lead ions eject three protons, converting lead into gold.
- The produced gold nuclei existed for only about one microsecond before disintegrating, with the total amount equivalent to 29 trillionths of a gram.
- ALICE’s Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDCs) enabled precise detection and quantification of ejected protons and neutrons, marking a first in systematic experimental analysis of this phenomenon.
- While the findings refine nuclear dissociation models and inform future accelerator designs, the process remains impractical for gold production due to its extreme energy demands and minimal yields.