We often see futuristic technology that allows people to freely enter and exit the microscopic material world in science fiction movies. Such science fiction scenes are becoming a reality in China. In a 100-kilometer-long underground tunnel, a giant “microscope” may be born, which can peek into the secrets of the earth and even the deep universe.
China plans to build the world's largest particle colliderCircular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC)will promote the advancement of basic scientific research and may also completely change our understanding of the universe.
Revealed: The “Super Race Track” of the Microscopic World
A particle collider is like a “super racetrack” in the microscopic world. In this precision device, scientists use sophisticated and complex accelerating electric fields to make tiny particles run at speeds close to the speed of light, bypassing long tunnels and colliding at specific locations.
When two beams of high-speed particles collide at a predetermined “observation point”, it is like creating a miniature “Big Bang” on the subatomic scale.
This high-energy collision allows us to observe physical phenomena that are not normally visible. According to Einstein's mass-energy equation E=mc², we know that huge amounts of energy can be converted into matter. In high-energy collisions, the huge amount of energy released instantly can create a variety of phenomena that are not visible in the everyday world, giving us the opportunity to peek into the structural mysteries of microscopic particles.
What's even more exciting is that this high-energy collision can also reproduce the high-energy state at the moment the universe was born. By simulating the high temperature and high density environment of the early universe, we can better understand how the universe evolved from a singularity to the vast starry sky we see today. It's like having a “cosmic time machine” that gives us the opportunity to study what the universe looked like in its infancy.
The circular accelerator is regarded as one of the most important tools in modern physics. It is not only a “super microscope” for exploring the microscopic world, but also a “time machine” for studying the origin of the universe.
The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), with the ladder on the lower right highlighting its size. Image source: Wikipedia
The main research target of the “Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC)” planned by China is the Higgs boson, a mysterious particle discovered in 2012 and vividly called the “God particle”. It is like the core secret word in a magic book, and is believed to be able to give other particles mass.
Scientists hope that through in-depth research, they can answer some of the most fundamental questions in the universe: Why does matter have mass? How did the universe evolve? Why is there more matter than antimatter in the universe?
In the standard model, Fe
Mions have six types of quarks (purple), six types of leptons (green), four types of gauge bosons (red), and the Higgs boson (yellow). Image source: Wikipedia
The Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC) is like a tool that helps us decipher the core secret language. Through this “super microscope”, Chinese scientists hope to make major breakthroughs in basic physics research and make important contributions to human exploration of the mysteries of the universe.
CEPC: The crystallization of scientific and technological innovation
The design of the Circular Electron-Positron Collider (CEPC) is an engineering miracle that combines the application of multiple cutting-edge technologies.
This huge “track” consists of an underground tunnel with a circumference of 100 kilometers, which is equivalent to the length of 250 standard 400-meter running tracks connected end to end. In this huge facility, particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light, producing high-energy collisions. Its uniqueness lies not only in its huge scale, but also in its efficiency and precision.
It produces millions of Higgs bosons each year, allowing scientists to measure the properties of this mysterious particle with unprecedented precision.
A group photo of the CEPC team, the International Advisory Committee, and some members of the International Review Committee of the CEPC Conceptual Design Report. Image source: Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
What is exciting is that the Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is expected to start construction in 2027 and be completed in about 10 years. This means that it will be completed at least a few years earlier than Europe's Future Circular Collider (FCC) plan, and China is likely to gain an advantage in this technological competition.
Challenges and opportunities: building a world-class scientific research platform
However, it is not easy to turn the grand plan of “CEPC” into reality. Building such a large and sophisticated device requires breakthroughs in many cutting-edge technologies, from superconducting magnets to precision control systems, and each component has extremely high requirements for accuracy and stability. It is like assembling a super-precision watch, and every part cannot be wrong.
The engineering challenges are equally huge. Digging a 100-kilometer-long underground tunnel requires considering complex geological conditions and environmental impacts. Currently, Qinhuangdao, Changsha and Huzhou are competing for the site selection of the “CEPC” project. Each location has its own advantages and faces different challenges.
Inside the CERN LHC collider tunnel. Image source: Wikipedia
Despite the challenges, the CEPC project also brings huge development opportunities. It will promote the development of China in many high-tech fields, from superconducting technology applications to precision manufacturing industries. More importantly, it will train a large number of world-class scientists and engineers for China, laying a solid talent foundation for future scientific and technological innovation.
In the future, if the CEPC project is successfully implemented, it will open a “new window” for humans to understand the universe. This is a brave scientific and technological attempt, and it is this spirit of curiosity to explore the unknown that drives the continuous progress of human civilization.
China's strategic confidence in proposing and promoting this grand plan demonstrates the ambition and responsibility of a major scientific and technological power. We look forward to this huge “microscope” made in China helping us explore more secrets of the universe!
references
[1] Nature, China could start building the world's biggest particle collider in 2027.
[2] Wang Yifang, building a large accelerator to realize the scientific dream.
Planning and production
Produced by Science Popularization China
Author: Guo Fei, Yantai University
Producer丨China Science Expo
Editor: Dong Nana
Proofread by Xu Lailinlin