The European Nuclear Research Council (CERN) has published a report on a study investigating the feasibility of the future Circular Collider (FCC) . This new particle collider, around 91 km in circumference, would be more than three times the size of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and is designed to take particle physics to new frontiers.
FCC: A gigantic particle collider
The FCC seeks to go beyond the limits achieved by the LHC, which was instrumental in the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012. Despite notable progress, the LHC will reach its maximum capacity in the next decade, and new infrastructure is required to address the deepest questions in fundamental physics.
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The FCC proposal focuses on basic research and the development of technologies that will benefit multiple sectors. From new materials for medical applications to advances in nuclear energy and fusion , the potential impact goes far beyond pure science.
Challenges of financing and construction
The estimated construction cost of the FCC is approximately 15 billion Swiss francs. This next-generation collider will be developed in two stages, starting with an electron-positron accelerator before moving to a proton-proton collider that will reach energies of up to 100 TeV, almost eight times that of the LHC.
Despite impressive technological advances, project funding remains a matter of debate, as it requires joint efforts from countries and international organizations. CERN has guaranteed that any new project will be environmentally sustainable, incorporating eco-design principles and minimizing the project’s ecological footprint .
If its construction is confirmed in the coming years, the FCC will enable a quantum leap in our understanding of the universe. Not only will it open new doors in physics, but, like its predecessor, the LHC, it will drive technological innovation globally. However, the project will depend on the collaboration of CERN members and international partners for a final decision on its feasibility to be made by 2028.
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Source and photos: CERN