Scientists plan to build even larger atom-smasher by 2040

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space tech

Context:

Scientists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, are making strides towards initiating a multibillion-euro project for constructing a larger and more potent particle collider, the Future Circular Collider (FCC), aimed at delving deeper into the universe’s mysteries.

Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

The Large Hadron Collider is a giant, complex machine built to study particles that are the smallest known building blocks of all things.
LHC is a collider that accelerates two beams of particles in opposite directions and smashes them head-on.
These beams of particles are Hadrons.
Hadron is a subatomic particle made of quarks, gluons and anti-quarks.
Hadrons are the heaviest particles and are composed of two or more quarks that are held strongly by electromagnetic force.
LHC is built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

About the Future Circular Collider (FCC):

The project is expected to commence its first phase by 2040, primarily supported by European and Western countries.
This initiative follows the success of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), notable for its role in confirming the existence of the Higgs boson in 2012, a pivotal discovery in physics.
FCC will have the potential to significantly advance the understanding of fundamental physics and drive technological innovation in fields like cryogenics and superconducting magnets, with broader socioeconomic benefits.
The planned collider, with a reduced loop circumference from 100 kilometers to 91 kilometers, aims to achieve particle collision energy levels of 100 TeV, significantly surpassing the LHC’s 13 TeV, and further expanding the frontier of particle physics.