Future Circular Collider: Scientists Plan a More Powerful Particle Accelerator to Unveil Cosmic Mysteries. CERN has released a blueprint for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a 56.5-mile ring crossing the French-Swiss border. This project aims to outperform the LHC in energy, precision, and discovery potential.
A New Particle Physics Era
The FCC will use a two-phase approach according to CERN’s plan:
- Mid-2040s: Extending our knowledge of basic particles through high-precision research of known physics.
- Beyond 2070: High-energy collisions between heavy ions and protons will reveal new information beyond the Standard Model.
Why Construct a Larger Collider?
- Although the Higgs boson was verified by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2013, there are still many unanswered questions.
- In order to create heavier particles, scientists want to attain ten times the energy of the LHC.
- Beyond physics, the FCC might develop vacuum technologies, cryogenics, and superconducting magnets.
Obstacles and Upcoming Actions
- An estimated $16 billion will be spent.
- Engineering and environmental assessments are in progress.
- In 2028, a final decision about building will be made.
The Prospects of High-Energy Physics
The FCC requires worldwide cooperation to become a reality, despite CERN’s ambitious goals. If approved, the next-generation atom smasher might revolutionize physics and offer crucial answers to fundamental questions about the composition and origins of the cosmos.
Source: NBC News