Plans for an international particle research facility – that could require a 40km long tunnel – have moved closer to realisation with the announcement that the scientific methodology to be used has been agreed.
The International Linear Collider (ILC) is acknowledged to be the next major project for particle physics. At a scientific conference in Beijing the International Committee for Future Accelerators (ICFA) announced that superconducting technology option would be used for the collider, the so-called “cold” version.
Scientists now have to develop the technical design of the project. One option calls for a 40km tunnel, another requires a 30km tunnel. This is just for the collider, the facility may require a parallel tunnel with ancillary and access tunnels.
