30.05.2013

European Strategy for Particle Physics adopted

Today, at a special meeting hosted by the European Commission in Brussels, the CERN Council formally adopted the update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics. This strategy sets the course for the future of this research field in Europe, making recommendations for future projects and research fields. Particle physicists from all European countries together with colleagues from Asia and America participated in the development of the European strategy. German particle physicists also formulated their priorities for particle physics in Germany and Europe and contributed to the strategy process.

Accelerator with high scientific potential: the LHC at CERN.

“The central building blocks of the European strategy, the LHC and the ILC, are completely in accordance with the long-term particle physics strategies of DESY,” said Joachim Mnich, DESY Research Director for particle and astroparticle physics, who participated in the development of strategy as a member of the international European Strategy Group. “Moreover, I am glad that the important role of the national laboratories and research facilities is highly appreciated in the strategy, especially with regard to the development and construction of novel detectors and computing.”

Due to its large-scale facilities and global network, particle physics requires long-term planning and worldwide coordination. With the discovery of the Higgs particle in 2012, LHC scientists have reached a milestone that has given new impetus to this field of research. They can now tackle questions according to the priorities specified in the new European strategy in a targeted and coordinated manner. Thus, the strategy will shape the research of the coming decades.

Top priority is given to the continued operation of the LHC and its upgrade to higher energies and higher particle rates to ensure the exploitation of its full scientific potential. Other priorities for large-scale physics facilities are the development of a post-LHC accelerator project at CERN with global contribution, the European participation in the linear accelerator ILC and the development of a European neutrino research programme.

Moreover, the European Strategy recommends the continuation of a strong and diversified theory programme, studies in specific areas of particle physics in Europe and other regions with European participation, extension of research and development of innovative detector technologies and close collaboration with neighbouring fields such as astroparticle physics and nuclear physics. With this, the European strategy generally follows the recommendations of the German particle physicists which are summarised in a paper of the Komittee für Elementarteilchenphysik KET.

European Strategy for Particle Physics

German Strategy for Particle Physics (in German)