This is the lesser known effort at CERN among the general public, and yet, it may have one of the most significant impacts coming out of this high-energy physics lab.
CLIC, or the Compact Linear Collider research project at CERN has been studying accelerator science for many years. This is one of a few prominent research centers on accelerator physics throughout the world. Both they and many other accelerator research centers are making advancements in accelerator science that have a direct benefit and application to the general public.
So my intention in highlighting this article is not simply for you to learn what the people at CLIC do. Some of the description may even be beyond your understanding. What you should focus on is all the applications that are already in use, or can be possible in the near future, on the advancements made in this area of physics/engineering. These applications are not just within physics/engineering.
Unfortunately, as I've stated a few times in this blog, funding for accelerator science is often tied to funding in high energy physics, and for the US, the funding profile in this sector has been abysmal. So while accelerator science is actually independent of HEP, its funding has gone downhill with HEP funding over the last few years, especially after the shutdown of the Tevatron at Fermilab.
Whether you support funding, or increase in funding, of this area of study is a different matter, but you should at least be aware and have the knowledge of what you are supporting or not supporting, and not simply make a decision based on ignorance of what it is and what it's implication can be.
Zz.
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