Feasibility Study: The Future Circular Collider
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is considering the construction of a new particle accelerator called the Future Circular Collider. The project, currently in the feasibility study phase, has drawn interest from various European and Western countries that fund CERN.
Continuing the Legacy of the Large Hadron Collider
The proposed Future Circular Collider aims to build upon the success of the Large Hadron Collider, which gained fame for its role in confirming the existence of the subatomic particle known as the Higgs boson in 2012. Despite not yet being an approved project, CERN Director-General Fabiola Gianotti expressed optimism, stating that no significant technical obstacles have been identified so far.
A Platform for Scientific Advancement
Gianotti emphasized the potential of the Future Circular Collider as a tool for advancing our understanding of fundamental physics. She highlighted the collider’s ability to drive innovation in areas such as cryogenics, superconducting magnets, vacuum technologies, and detector-instrumentation technologies. These advancements could have socioeconomic benefits for society at large.
Exploring the Unknown
While the Future Circular Collider holds promise for scientific discovery, the specific scientific breakthroughs it could facilitate are yet to be determined. Gianotti acknowledged the absence of clear theoretical guidance on what researchers should be looking for. Nevertheless, the collider’s ability to accelerate particles and observe their collisions offers a unique opportunity to unravel the mysteries of fundamental physics.
Proposed Changes and Increased Energy Levels
In a recent briefing, CERN presented some modifications to the initial plan for the Future Circular Collider. The proposed circular loop, originally envisioned as 100 kilometers, will now be 91 kilometers. However, the goal remains to achieve particle collision energies of 100 TeV (trillion electron volts), surpassing the energy levels of the Large Hadron Collider by eightfold.
The construction of the Future Circular Collider represents an ambitious endeavor that could shape the future of scientific research. As CERN continues its feasibility study and garners support from its international partners, the scientific community eagerly awaits the potential breakthroughs that this cutting-edge project could yield.