Cern embarks on groundbreaking plans to construct a 91km particle collider, marking a significant leap in scientific research.
- The Future Circular Collider (FCC) is set to replace the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with extensive ground investigations underway.
- These investigations aim to understand geological conditions to minimise construction risks and ensure the project’s viability.
- A consortium, including UK-Italian groups, is tasked with studying soil stability across the proposed site.
- Cern’s feasibility study will inform member states’ decisions on the collider’s future by 2025.
Cern, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, is forging ahead with plans for an expansive new particle accelerator, known as the Future Circular Collider (FCC). This initiative is intended as a successor to the Large Hadron Collider, promising an upgrade in research capabilities. The FCC is proposed to be housed in a vast 91km tunnel that will span both French and Swiss territories, situated at significant depths beneath the surface, including beneath Lake Geneva.
Currently, geological field investigations are in progress as part of assessing the project’s feasibility. These crucial investigations are expected to complete by the end of 2025. The aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the local subsoil conditions to mitigate any potential construction risks associated with the FCC. Engineering consortium SGS3, comprising Structural Soils, Smart Seismic Solutions, and Geotec, has been selected to carry out these ground assessments in the south-eastern sector of the anticipated tunnel alignment.
A Cern spokesperson highlighted the pivotal nature of these investigations, stating that the primary objective is to achieve a more precise grasp of the geology to minimise construction risks. This involves determining the depth of molasse rock and its interfaces with other geological layers such as limestone and moraines. Such data is considered critical in establishing a reliable foundation for future planning.
The comprehensive ground investigations are conducted across various communes within Haute Savoie and Ain in France, as well as the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland. It has been suggested that, following the current investigations, further detailed study might be necessary to deepen understanding of the geology where essential infrastructure like caverns and shafts will be constructed. Structural Soils director Mike Williams noted the focus on critical geological aspects to reduce uncertainties and assess potential construction risks.
The findings from these geological studies will significantly contribute to the FCC’s feasibility study, which seeks to evaluate both the technical and financial aspects of the project. Furthermore, this study will scrutinise environmental impacts and development of infrastructure and technologies to enhance the collider’s operational efficiency. Upon conclusion, the study will enable Cern’s member states to make informed decisions by 2025 regarding the commissioning of the FCC in the 2040s as a successor to the existing accelerator.
The Future Circular Collider represents a bold leap forward in scientific exploration, contingent upon successful feasibility studies and international collaboration.
