Physics Colloquia: Particle Accelerators: Pushing the Frontiers of Physics

Over the past three decades, the science of beams has evolved into a distinct discipline with its own subjects and methods. Some 30,000 accelerators are in operation worldwide today, including over 100 of major facilities for fundamental science research.  Around 5,000 accelerator scientists and engineers work in over 50 countries, collaborating with a pool of about 20,000 technical experts. While most are deeply involved in operations and upgrades, their careers also include designing and constructing new facilities, conducting beam-physics research, developing critical technical components, and providing project leadership. Additionally, their work often involves technology transfer, industrial applications, education and training of future experts, and public and academic outreach. I will provide a brief overview of the most exciting recent developments in beam physics and accelerator technology, with a focus on colliders for nuclear and particle physics.

Particle colliders celebrate their 60th anniversary this year. While the Large Hadron Collider and the Super-KEKB factory represent the current frontiers of hadron and lepton colliders, respectively, future colliders are an essential component of a strategic vision for particle physics. Conceptual studies and technical developments for several promising near- and medium-term future collider options are underway internationally. Analysis of numerous proposals and studies for far-future colliders highlights the limits of collider beam technology due to machine size, cost, and power consumption. This calls for a paradigm shift in particle physics research at ultra-high energy but low luminosity colliders, approaching or exceeding a 1 PeV center-of-mass energy scale.