International Linear Collider (ILC) : Japanese Engineers Want To Collide Electrons and Positrons

Japan is rolling up its sleeves for the next extreme engineering, mega-project : The International Linear Collider aka ILC. Physics enthusiasts and researchers have set their eyes for this next mega science & engineering project on Japan as US and Europe struggle with their wallets. The machine will be a 31 kilometer long, straight tunnel, unlike the LHC which is circular in shape. It will house 16k superconducting cavities capable of accelerating the electrons and positrons to 500 gigaelectronvolts and future upgrade might just double that capacity.

[caption id="attachment_44874" align="aligncenter" width="620"] International Linear Collider[/caption]

Building the machine is going to be a huge engineering challenge. Building it underground may not be a viable option given the frequency of earthquakes and possibilites of tsunami floods. It's likely that the machine will be built above the ground.

The estimated cost of the project is about $8 billion. Engineers say that it's either going to be Japan, or the project will have to be delayed. We keep our fingers crossed!



Via: Nature

  Posted in: #Coffee Room