Pushing the boundaries of particle collider energy and intensity The high-luminosity LHC is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, measuring 27 kilometres in circumference. This project was declared a priority project in 2013 under the European Strategy for Particle Physics. The setec group is involved in this large-scale project, which is being led by the CERN. For the LHC, we carried out work to expand the underground structures to make the ring more efficient, as CERN aims to increase the capacity of the particle accelerator.
On the LHC project, setec is acting as both prime contractor and assistant to the project owner. Many subsidiaries of the group are involved: setec als, setec tpi, terrasol and setec international. Recently, setec als and setec international won the tender to provide GIS (Geographic Information System) services. In March 2022, setec tpi submitted a bid for a new, much larger ring, the successor to the LHC: the Future Circular Collider (FCC).
The mission of the FCC will be to push back the energy and intensity boundaries of particle colliders, with the aim of reaching collision energies of 100 TeV, in search for new physics. The aim is to carry out the engineering studies for the exploratory boreholes that will enable CERN to ensure the reliability of the altimetry setting of the future ring. A number of so-called «risk areas» need to be investigated in order to analyse the land in these areas to ensure the reliability of the project location. With 100 kilometres of tunnel and more than a dozen very deep shafts running the length of the tunnel, the FCC is a major project.
CERN is a multinational organisation: 27 countries are participating. louis.canolle@setec.com thibaud.le-berre@setec.com