Europe’s FCC Particle Accelerator: A Collaboration with China? Or a Race to Uncover the Secrets of the Universe?

A new particle accelerator, the FCC, is being proposed by researchers that spans over 90 kilometers with an estimated cost of several billion euros. The circular tunnel will extend from Helsinki railway station to a point south of Järvenpää. This collider is seen as crucial for advancing particle physics research.

While this project is being developed in Europe, China is also planning to build a collider approximately 100 kilometers in length. However, international cooperation between Cern and China may present challenges. Despite this, proponents of the FCC project believe it is essential for the future of particle physics research.

The FCC project costs over 15 billion euros and preparations are already underway. The decision on whether to proceed with the project will be made in the coming years. If approved, construction could begin in the 2040s with the goal of furthering our understanding of fundamental particles and phenomena.

The main objective of the FCC project is to explore the nature of the Higgs particle, which is believed to play a key role in explaining the mass of particles and the stability of the universe. In addition to investigating dark matter, which makes up most of the universe’s mass but remains largely unknown, researchers hope to study other areas such as cosmic rays and antimatter physics.

The FCC project represents a significant investment in particle physics research with potential benefits for humanity’s understanding of fundamental particles and phenomena. While it faces challenges and uncertainties, researchers remain optimistic about its prospects for advancing our knowledge about ourselves and our place in the universe.