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A cut through the ATLAS detector showing how particles are detected and identified. (ATLAS Experiment © CERN. Artist: João Pequenão).

Visualizing the functioning of the detector

As complex as the ATLAS detector is, it is possible to show graphically how it functions and how it can tell one particle from another. The numerous detector elements all have very precise tasks in the exploration of the particle collisions. The particles produced have to be identified and their energy determined. This animation by Joao Pequenao shows how the sum of the parts act together to tell us which particle is which.