CERN and the future of the collider

Context

In brief

• CERN is planning a new particle accelerator.
• The project is almost four times larger than the current LHC.
• The new collider could become operational in the 2040s.

Key facts

• What: A new particle accelerator.
• When: Potentially operational in the 2040s.
• Where: Under Lake Geneva and the Rhône River.
• Who: CERN.
• Amount: 15 billion francs.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN has changed our understanding of the universe. Now the European Organization for Nuclear Research wants to realize an even bigger project. And scientists unanimously support it.

CERN, based on the outskirts of Geneva, is the world's leading center in particle physics. It relies on the collaboration between 25 member states, ten associate member states, and observers such as the United States and the European Union. But it also relies on the premise that some questions are too big to find answers in the efforts of a single country. Questions like: What is the universe made of? Why does matter exist? What happened in the instants just after the Big Bang?

CERN's premise has borne fruit in 2012 when scientists working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) announced the discovery of the Higgs boson. The so-called God Particle gives mass to fundamental particles, the smallest building blocks of the universe. 'Without the Higgs boson, we wouldn't be here,' explains Fabiola Gianotti, who was the director-general of CERN for ten years until January of this year.

That discovery, however, has raised as many questions as it has answered. And now, as LHC is reaching the limit of what it can reveal, CERN has its most audacious move yet: a new particle accelerator, almost four times larger than LHC, placed 200 meters deep and destined to pass under Lake Geneva and the Rhône River. Dubbed the Future Circular Collider, or FCC, it should become operational in the 2040s as the largest scientific instrument ever built – and the most important, according to its promoters. Building it should cost 15 billion francs (19 billion $), and the next big challenge for CERN will be to raise the necessary funds in a fragmented geopolitical context.

'FCC is extremely important for our field of research, and if there is anyone who can realize it, it is CERN,' says Maria Spiropulu, a CERN collaborator and researcher at the California Institute of Technology.

'When I give presentations, I always choose eight or ten big open questions in particle physics, and always half of these have something to do with the Higgs boson,' says Mark Thomson, a British physicist and the new director-general of CERN since January. Thomson wants to understand why the 12 fundamental particles have different masses from each other and whether the Higgs boson itself is to be considered a fundamental particle. These are not questions that the current LHC accelerator can answer with sufficient precision.

Other scientists are drawn to even more fundamental mysteries. Ben Kilminster, a particle physicist at the University of Zurich, is fascinated by dark matter. Then there is the puzzle of why the Big Bang produced more matter than antimatter. 'FCC can answer the most questions through independent tests,' Kilminster explains. >>'The most extraordinary instrument ever built'? Watch our video on FCC: In a first phase, FCC would act as what physicists call a 'Higgs factory,' a machine capable of producing many Higgs bosons under precisely controlled conditions. In it, electrons and positrons would circulate along a new 90.7-kilometer ring – more than three times the length of the current LHC – dug 200 meters underground. 'The main goal of FCC is to analyze the Higgs boson in detail and use it to explore the universe in areas we still don't understand,' Thomson explains. In a second phase, potentially operational in the 2070s, the same tunnel would house a proton accelerator capable of colliding particles at energies ten times greater than those of the LHC. This new machine would push the limits of current theoretical hypotheses and could discover new, heavier particles. 'Particles could be generated that have about ten times the mass of current ones,' Kilminster says. A feasibility study drafted by 1,500 experts and approved by the CERN Council confirmed the scientific soundness of the project. The study evaluated the scientific objectives, the geology of the area, the costs, and the impacts.

Operational details

Implications for Cross-Border Workers

The CERN FCC project, although it does not have a direct impact on cross-border workers in Ticino, could have indirect implications for the region. The construction of such a large particle accelerator will require a significant amount of human and financial resources, which could influence the local job market and economy.

The FCC project could create new job opportunities for cross-border workers, both in the construction sector and in scientific research. However, it is important to note that the project is still in the planning phase, and specific details about job opportunities have not yet been defined.

Impact on Mobility

The FCC project could also have an impact on the mobility of cross-border workers. The construction of such a large particle accelerator will require a significant amount of materials and equipment, which will need to be transported to the region. This could cause traffic congestion and delays at border crossings, such as Brogeda and Gaggiolo.

Environmental Impact

The construction of the FCC could also have an environmental impact on the region. The construction of such a large particle accelerator will require a significant amount of energy and natural resources, which could have a negative impact on the local environment.

Conclusion

The CERN FCC project is a large-scale scientific endeavor that could have indirect implications for cross-border workers in Ticino. However, it is important to note that the project is still in the planning phase, and specific details about job opportunities and economic impact have not yet been defined.

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Key points

What to do for cross-border workers

For cross-border workers interested in working on the FCC project, it is important to stay informed about job opportunities and application procedures. You can visit the CERN website for more information on job opportunities and application procedures.

Application procedure

1. Visit the CERN website for more information on job opportunities. 2. Create a profile on the CERN career portal. 3. Apply for open positions that match your skills and interests. 4. Participate in selection interviews and practical tests, if required. 5. Wait for the final decision from CERN.

Useful tools

For cross-border workers interested in working on the FCC project, you can use the salary calculator on the Frontaliere Ticino website to estimate your net salary and withholding tax. You can also use the currency converter to compare exchange rates between CHF and EUR.

Conclusion

The FCC project at CERN is a major scientific endeavor that could offer new job opportunities for cross-border workers. However, it is important to stay informed about job opportunities and application procedures.

Source: swissinfo.ch