As CERN turns 70, it searches for ways to finance the next big thing

Sub :Sci

Sec: Nuclear sector

Context:

CERN, the world-renowned particle physics lab, faces a significant challenge: securing $17 billion in funding for its next major project, the Future Circular Collider (FCC).

About CERN:

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research.
Founded in 1954, CERN’s main focus is particle physics – the study of the fundamental constituents of matter and the forces between them.
Location:Geneva, Switzerland (main site), straddling the Franco-Swiss border
Founded: 1954
Member States: 23 as of 2024, with several associate and observer states

Major Facilities:

Large Hadron Collider (LHC):
- The world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator
- 27 km circumference ring located 100m underground
- Capable of colliding protons at energies up to 13 TeV
ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) and CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid):
- Two large general-purpose detectors used to look for signs of new physics
A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE):
- Detector specialized for studying heavy-ion collisions
Large Hadron Collider beauty (LHCb):
- Detector for studying the slight differences between matter and antimatter
Other Accelerators:
- Proton Synchrotron (PS)
- Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS)
- Isotope Separator On-Line DEvice (ISOLDE) (for research with radioactive ions)

The Importance of Fundamental Research:

CERN’s work spans critical areas like dark matter research and cosmic ray effects, offering insights into the universe’s building blocks.
According to Gianotti, fundamental research drives innovation, and history shows that breakthroughs, like the World Wide Web, stem from such research.

Major Discoveries and Contributions

Discovery of the Higgs Boson (2012)
- Confirmed the existence of the Higgs field, which gives particles mass
Creation of Antimatter (1995)
- First creation of anti-hydrogen atoms
Discovery of W and Z Bosons (1983)
- Confirmed the electroweak theory
Invention of the World Wide Web (1989)
- Tim Berners-Lee developed the WWW to help scientists share information
Advancements in Superconducting Magnets
- Crucial for the operation of the LHC and with applications beyond particle physics

Plans for the Future Circular Collider:

The FCC is set to be a 90-kilometer underground ring beneath France and Switzerland, far larger than the LHC’s 27-kilometer ring.
A feasibility study will conclude in 2025, and a decision on construction is expected by 2027 or 2028.

Geopolitical Competition in Particle Physics:

Europe risks losing its leadership in particle physics to China, which has the resources and ambition to build a rival collider.
Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi highlighted CERN’s leadership as a critical success for the EU in particle physics.
Should China complete its circular collider first, Europe’s dominance could be jeopardized.

Source: BS