End of World Further Delayed

John Conway of Cosmic Variance reports that the damage to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was even more severe than so far reported. He links to this CERN Report:

INTERIM SUMMARY REPORT ON THE ANALYSIS OF THE 19 SEPTEMBER 2008 INCIDENT AT THE LHC:
...Inspection and diagnostics After restoring power and services in the tunnel and ensuring mechanical stability of the displaced magnets, one proceeded to open the cryostat sleeves in the interconnections between magnets, starting from subsector 23-25. This confirmed the location of the electrical arc, showed absence of electrical and mechanical damage in neighboring interconnections, but revealed contamination by soot-like dust which also propagated in the beam pipes over some distance. It also showed
damage to the multilayer insulation blankets of the cryostats. The number of magnets to be repaired is at maximum of 5 quadrupoles (in Short Straight Sections) and 24 dipoles, but it is likely that more will have to be removed from the tunnel for cleaning and exchange of multilayer insulation. The exact numbers will be known once the ongoing inspections are completed. Spare magnets and spare components appear to be available in adequate types and sufficient quantities for allowing replacement of the damaged ones during the forthcoming
shutdown. The extent of contamination to the beam vacuum pipes is not yet fully mapped, but known to be limited; in situ cleaning is being considered to keep to a minimum the number of magnets to be removed. The plan for removing/reinstallation, transport and repair of magnets in sector 3-4 is being established and integrated with the maintenance and consolidation work to be performed during the winter shutdown. The corresponding manpower resources have been secured. . .

It will probably be at least late next year before we see collisions.

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