Teaser image source: Cern
The CERN research center is planning to build a new particle accelerator with a length of 91 kilometers. With the ring-shaped facility, basic research would be guaranteed until the end of the century. Despite high costs, the interim report from the beginning of February is encouraging. A larger facility is even planned in China.
Quelle: Cern
Scientists and engineers from all over the world have already been able to gain insights into the placement of the ring, the implementation of the system, civil engineering as well as cost and financing aspects. According to the study, there should be no technical obstacles to construction.
The urge to research now almost follows a contradictory law. In order to discover physical phenomena in the subatomic world of particles, the scope of the facilities is increasing exponentially. At CERN in Geneva, particle accelerators have been one of the most important scientific tools for understanding the most fundamental particles and at the same time the physical laws of the universe over the last 50 years.
With the 27-kilometer-long Large Hadron Collier (LHC), CERN currently has the most powerful particle accelerator in the world. Technical adjustments can increase the discovery potential so that the accelerator can be used for research programs until 2040. But the planning of research activities with new facilities goes beyond the LHC.
Planning basic research after 2040
High-energy physics research in the 21st century depends on the development and construction of more powerful particle accelerators. Therefore, with the Future Circular Collider Study (FCC), investigations are underway into various options as to how such a latest generation system should be designed. The researchers are becoming more specific.
The ring-shaped particle accelerator with a circumference of 91 kilometers would be routed in an underground tunnel through the French departments of Haute-Savoie and Ain and the canton of Geneva. The tunnel must avoid geologically complex areas. It is also important to maximize the efficiency of the system. In addition, the connection to the existing LHC must be planned. The location of the surface locations and social and ecological aspects also play a role, as CERN writes in a statement. Due to further requirement criteria, a wide range of design variants arise.
Quelle: Cern
The new particle accelerator FCC is intended to complement the existing Large Hadron Collier (LHC) and provide insights into phenomena in the subatomic range and physical laws in the universe.
One tunnel, two accelerators
It is planned to arrange two acceleration systems one after the other in the FCC tunnel. Construction should therefore take place in stages. In a first step, an electron-positron collider FCC-ee, which will enable unprecedented precision measurements, is scheduled to go into operation by the mid-2040s.
The facility could potentially be the basis for physics beyond the Standard Model. In a second stage, the construction of another particle accelerator would be planned (Proton-Proton Collider FCC-hh), which could open up new discovery potential with an energy eight times higher than the LHC.
Estimated cost of 21 billion francs
In addition to scientific considerations, the feasibility study includes numerous technical and administrative considerations and financing. Questions about territorial feasibility, including geological and ecological impacts of the infrastructure and civil engineering, also had to be clarified, as the communication goes on to say.
If the outcome of the feasibility study is ultimately positive, CERN Member States and international partners may support a more in-depth technical feasibility study of the project. If the project is finally approved, construction could begin after the mid-2030s. According to a report by SRF, the total cost of the project is estimated at 21 billion francs. A final decision from CERN member states on whether to give the project the green light is not expected before 2028.
Intermediate goal achieved
The CERN Council completed the mid-term review of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) feasibility study in early February after three years of work involving scientists and engineers from around the world. According to the study, there should be no technical obstacles to construction. More detailed evaluations require geology or projected costs. The FCC feasibility study is in progress, with a report expected to be completed and published in 2025. The project at CERN has now faced competition from China. In 2018, plans were presented there for the construction of its own 100-kilometer-long electron-positron supercollider, which could begin operations as early as 2030. (mgt/sts)