Scientists Unveil Ambitious Plans for a Super-Sized Atom Smasher to Unlock Physics Mysteries

GENEVA (AP) — Leading experts from the planet’s biggest particle accelerator have published a plan outlining future directions. a much bigger successor This could greatly enhance investigations into the unsolved mysteries of physics.

The designs for the Future Circular Collider—a nearly 91 kilometers (56.5 miles) long ring stretching across the French-Swiss border and under Lake Geneva—were released late Monday. This project has been in development for approximately ten years. CERN, the European organization focused on nuclear research .

The FCC will perform highly accurate experiments in the middle of the 2040s to examine "well-understood physics" more closely. Following this, they plan to move into a secondary stage around 2070 which will involve high-energy proton and heavy ion collisions aimed at "unlocking new mysteries," according to Giorgio Chiarelli, who serves as a research director at Italy’s National Institute of Nuclear Physics.

"History shows that when there is additional data, human ingenuity can uncover more information than initially anticipated," Chiarelli, who wasn’t part of the planning team, stated via email.

Over approximately ten years, leading scientists at CERN have been developing plans for a machine that will succeed the Large Hadron Collider—a system composed of magnets designed to propel particles through an underground tunnel measuring 27 kilometers (17 miles) long—and collide them at speeds close to the velocity of light.

The plan outlines the suggested route, anticipated environmental effects, scientific goals, and the projected expenses of the project. External specialists will review it prior to approval by CERN’s approximately twenty-four member states—European nations with the exception of Israel—before they make a decision in 2028 regarding future steps. The initiative aims to commence around the middle of the 2040s, entailing an estimated expenditure of roughly 14 billion Swiss francs ($16 billion).

CERN authorities highlight the potential for groundbreaking scientific findings that might spur advancements in areas such as cryogenics, superconducting magnets, and vacuum technology, all of which could have significant benefits for humanity.

External specialists highlight the potential for gaining further insights into the topic. Higgs boson , the elusive particle That has been controversially labeled as "the God particle," which aided in explaining how matter came into existence following the Big Bang.

Toil at the Large Hadron Collider Confirmed in 2013 the discovery of the Higgs boson , the key component of a puzzle called the standard model that aids in explaining certain basic forces in the universe.

The CERN Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, stated that the upcoming particle accelerator could be "the most remarkable device ever constructed by humankind to investigate the basic components and governing principles of nature," achieving this through enhanced exploration of the Higgs boson and opening up opportunities to "probe the highest energy domains." Additionally, she mentioned its potential to search for novel physics phenomena which might elucidate the architecture and progression of our cosmos.

One uncertainty is whether the Trump administration, which has been trimming foreign aid and expenditure in academic institutions and research facilities Will continue to back CERN one year following the Biden administration’s commitment to support the U.S. involvement in studying and collaborating on the FCC’s construction and "scientific utilization" should it be approved.

Gianotti stated that the United States hosts 2,000 users of CERN, which makes up the largest group from a single country out of the total 17,000 individuals involved, encompassing both external specialists overseas and employees at the facility.

While an observer state and not a member, the U.S. doesn't pay into the CERN regular budget but has contributed to specific projects. Most of the CERN regular budget comes from Europe.

Costas Fountas, the president of the CERN Council, mentioned that he had communicated with employees from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. These individuals conveyed that up until now they have been "below the radar regarding the budget reductions proposed by the Trump administration." This was how they expressed it themselves.

Scientists, engineers, and collaborators from CERN evaluated over 100 potential designs for the next-generation particle accelerator prior to proposing one with a circumference of approximately 91 kilometers situated roughly 200 meters (656 feet) underground on average. According to CERN, this circular tunnel would have a diameter of around 5 meters (16 feet).