Muon collider workshop accelerates experiment R&D
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| Fermilab theorist Joe Lykken gives an overview of a the physics potential for a muon collider at the Muon Collider Workshop, Nov. 10-12 at Fermilab. |
Fermilab took the next step in ensuring that the high-energy physics community has choices for the path to discovery beyond the energy range of the Large Hadron Collider.
The laboratory hosted a three-day workshop last week as a precursor to a new national muon collider R&D program.
Results from the LHC will help to determine which of the proposed machines — the International Linear Collider or either the muon colloder or Compact Linear Collider— is the preferred choice for the world's next energy-frontier collider.
"There is no question there will be interesting physics even in the era of 20 years running of the LHC," said workshop co-chair Fermilab theorist Estia Eichten.
The workshop, which drew about 80 participants from outside Fermilab, consolidates and builds on a decade of research with the goal of producing a white paper in 18 months and an end-to-end feasibility study within five years.
"We are within reach of finding out whether a muon collider is an option," said Steve Geer of Fermilab's Accelerator R&D Department and newly appointed interim co-director of the national Muon Accelerator Program.
Workshop attendees are off to a quick start. Prior to the meeting they produced detector simulations of backgrounds. During the workshop they moved forward with planning for Project X, a possible high-energy proton source for the muon collider; worked with members of the fourth detector, a previous design option for the ILC; and proposed horizontal collaborative efforts with the ILC and CLIC.
Collaborators plan to explore further synergies with the ILC, CLIC and the LHC upgrade plans for lepton collider R&D, particularly for physics benchmarks and detector components.
Fermilab Deputy Director Young-Kee Kim praised the work done so far and asked for more international collaboration beyond the current U.S., European and Asian participation on this "exciting, challenging journey."
— Tona Kunz
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| The red lines portray a possible layout for a proposed muon collider on the Fermilab site. |
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