CERN and international partners have completed a study to assess the feasibility of the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a proposed particle collider that could succeed the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in the 2040s. The report, involving over 1,000 physicists and engineers globally, presents an overview of various aspects related to the potential implementation of the project.
The FCC is envisioned as a 91-km circumference collider with a scientific motivation rooted in outstanding questions in fundamental physics, particularly those left unanswered by the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012. This particle’s properties have far-reaching implications for our understanding of existence and may shed light on the universe’s fate.
The report outlines two possible stages for the FCC research programme: an electron-positron collider and a proton-proton collider, with each stage matching the highest priorities set out in the 2020 European Strategy for Particle Physics. The estimated cost of construction is approximately 15 billion Swiss francs, distributed over 12 years starting from the early 2030s.
The study’s focus on sustainable research infrastructure has led to concepts and paths that minimize environmental impact while boosting new technologies and developing territorial synergies. A preferred option includes a ring circumference of 90.7 km at an average depth of 200 m, with eight surface sites and four experiments.
CERN has engaged its Host States, France and Switzerland, working with local, regional, and national entities to ensure constructive dialogue with territorial stakeholders. The report will be reviewed by independent expert bodies before being examined by the CERN Council in November 2025.
Source: https://home.cern/news/news/accelerators/cern-releases-report-feasibility-possible-future-circular-collider