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How a next-generation particle collider could unravel the mysteries of the Higgs boson
- High-energy physics is looking to take the next step now that the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is undergoing an upgrade towards the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). The question remains; what machine should follow that up and where should it be located?
- One possibility is the Future Circular Collider (FCC) which is a 91 km circumference collider at CERN. But new technologies suggest more appealing options such as a muon collider.
- The Higgs boson was discovered at the LHC in 2012, and research into its properties continues. Discovering how the Higgs boson interacts with all other particles in the Standard Model is still uncertain.
- The HL-LHC will amass enormous amounts of data, allowing the understanding of how the Higgs interacts with lighter particles such as the muon and itself. A £1.1bn upgrade is aimed to complete the initiative by the end of the decade.
- Following the HL-LHC, particle physicists believe the next machine should be a Higgs factory, the requirements of which could lead to a linear or circular particle collider.
- Linear colliders have some advantages over their circular counterparts, such as using less energy which may make it cheaper to build. However, circular colliders allow more detectors in the ring and can be recirculated
- The £12bn FCC is CERN’s design choice; it is a stepping stone to a proposed proton-proton machine and runs after the Higgs factory element come into play.
- Muon colliders are another consideration. The particles are heavier and a collider that exploits them could offer the advantages of electron machines while propelling the project to the same energy ranges as a proton machine.
- Muon colliders require significant R&D before construction but interestingly need less tunnel space than current designs. However, a massive global collaborative effort will still be needed for their creation.
- Particle physics is at a major crossroads, and the next machine designed to study the enigmatic Higgs boson will need to unravel its mysteries.
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