CERN has completed an extensive feasibility study in collaboration with international partners to assess the potential development of future Circular Corridors (FCCs).
Involving more than 1,000 physicists and engineers from around the world, the study outlines the technical, financial and environmental aspects of this ambitious project. If approved, the FCC will become the successor to the massive hadroncorider (LHC), revolutionizing understanding of basic physics by the 2040s.
The scientific vision behind Future Circular Collider
The FCC is intended as a 91-kilometer particle accelerator, which is significantly higher than the 27-kilometer LHC.
This next-generation collider is designed to explore the mysteries of particle physics, driven by the 2012 Higgsboson’s groundbreaking discovery.
Higgs bosons explain how basic particles acquire mass and play an important role in shaping the very structure of the universe.
However, many unanswered questions remain, and future circular corridors aim to dig deeper into these fundamental phenomena.
A two-stage approach to discovery
The proposed future circulating research programme consists of two phases. The first stage features an electronic positron collider that acts as Higgs, Electroweak, and Top-Quark Factory that operates at different energy levels.
This is followed by the Proton-Proton Collider. This is an unprecedented collision energy (TEV) that is about 10 times more than the current functionality of the LHC.
These two stages are in line with the 2020 update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, which prioritizes research in high energy physics over the next decades.
Engineering and Infrastructure Challenges
The feasibility study examines several important aspects needed to develop the FCC, including geology, civil engineering, and technical infrastructure.
The 90.7-kilometer ring is constructed at an average depth of 200 meters, requiring significant excavation and development of surface sites.
Advanced superconducting magnet technology and next-generation detectors are essential for managing increased energy levels.
The initial electronic positron stage cost Swiss francs 15 billion, and construction is expected to last 12 years from the early 2030s.
Sustainability and public engagement
CERN is committed to making future circular corridors a model for sustainable research infrastructure, integrating eco-design principles throughout the lifecycle.
Efforts to minimize environmental impact include energy-efficient operations, territorial carpooling such as energy reuse, and the use of sustainable materials in construction and demolition.
Public engagement is also a priority. CERN works closely with the host countries, France and Switzerland, along with regional and national authorities to maintain transparency and encourage public participation.
Dedicated initiatives are being developed to promote constructive dialogue with local communities and stakeholders.
What’s coming next?
Completing the feasibility study marks a significant milestone, but no formal commitment has been made to advance construction.
The report will undergo independent expert reviews before it is submitted to the CERN Council in November 2025.
Following further evaluations and international consultations, a final decision is expected around 2028 on whether to move the FCC forward.
The broader impact of the FCC
Beyond contributions to physics, future circular corridors are expected to promote technological advancements with broad social benefits.
While innovations in superconducting materials could enhance medical imaging and fusion energy research, accelerator and detector technologies could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and industrial applications.
Furthermore, advances in high efficiency power transfer may contribute to improving global energy infrastructure.
The future of high energy physics
Future circular colliders represent a bold step in our quest to understand the fundamental forces that shape our universe.
If approved, it could redefine the boundaries of particle physics and unlock new dimensions of knowledge.
The world is looking forward to its feasibility as the scientific community and policymakers deliberate. Ready to witness the next chapter of high energy physics exploration.
Source link
