CERN Unveils Groundbreaking Report on the Future Circular Collider: Exploring the Next Frontier in Particle Physics

A new report released examines the feasibility of the Future Circular Collider (FCC), which could take over from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the coming decades. This study, backed by over a thousand physicists and engineers globally, will feed into the European Strategy for Particle Physics and will be reviewed by the CERN Council shortly.

The FCC is envisioned as a massive particle collider with a circumference of 91 kilometers. Its development is driven by the quest to unlock more mysteries of fundamental physics, especially after the Higgs boson was discovered in 2012. The Higgs boson, a vital piece in understanding the fabric of the universe, plays a crucial role in how particles gain mass shortly after the Big Bang. Its study might even help explain the universe’s fate.

The feasibility study lays out a two-stage plan. The first stage involves an electron–positron collider focused on studying the Higgs boson, while the second stage will introduce a proton–proton collider expected to achieve a collision energy of around 100 TeV—significantly higher than the LHC’s capabilities.

The projected cost for the first stage of the FCC is 15 billion Swiss francs. This funding will cover the construction over roughly 12 years, starting in the early 2030s. Most finances will come from CERN’s annual budget, similar to the LHC’s funding structure.

Environmental sustainability is a priority for CERN. They plan to implement eco-friendly practices throughout the FCC project, from planning to construction and operation. The design aims to minimize the environmental impact while fostering technological advancements that could benefit society, like energy reuse initiatives.

Choosing the collider’s location was meticulous. CERN developed and analyzed over 100 scenarios to find the optimal setup, leading to a design with a 90.7 km circumference situated about 200 meters underground. Collaboration with local and national stakeholders in France and Switzerland has been critical, and public engagement is planned to ensure community involvement.

While the report doesn’t commit CERN or its member states to build the FCC just yet, it will be scrutinized by independent experts before the CERN Council reviews it in 2025. Any decision on moving forward may happen around 2028.

Particle colliders are essential for advancing our understanding of physics. They also drive technological innovations crucial for many sectors, including medicine and energy. Recent studies show that projects like the collider can inspire advancements in superconducting materials, which are vital for medical imaging and potential future energy solutions.

For further reading, check out the detailed reports on the FCC’s feasibility:

• Future Circular Collider Feasibility Study Report Volume 1: Physics and Experiments
• Volume 2: Accelerators, Technical Infrastructure, and Safety
• Volume 3: Civil Engineering, Implementation, and Sustainability
• For the media kit, visit here.

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physics, CERN, Large Hadron Collider, LHC, high-energy physics, particles, science