The world's only particle accelerator dedicated to art was switched on at the Louvre in Paris Thursday to help experts analyse ancient and precious works.
An expert sets the position of a small bronze Jupiter in relation to Aglaé (Accélérateur Grand Louvre d'analyse élémentaire) to the millimetre [Credit: C2RMF/AGLAE/CNRS/Christophe Hargoues] |
The Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museum of France (C2RMF) -- which is independent of the Louvre -- has spent 2.1 million euros ($2.5 million) overhauling and upgrading the machine, which can determine the chemical make-up of objects without the need to take samples.
Another ancient bronze sculpture is analyzed using the latest version of the AGLAE [Credit: Stephane de Sakutin/AFP] |
The AGLAE works by speeding up helium and hydrogen nuclei to speeds of between 20,000 to 30,000 kilometres (12,400 to 18,600 miles) per second and then bombarding the object, which emits radiation that can be captured and analysed.
A restorer from the Restoration of Museums of France (C2RMF) research center explains the operation of the AGLAE [Credit: Stephane de Sakutin/AFP] |
They were uncovered from the ancient forum of Bavay close to the border with Belgium.
The old accelerator -- which was built in 1988 -- could only work between eight and 10 hours a day, but the new one can function around the clock, the C2RMF said.
Source: AFP [November 24, 2017]