Milestone

International Linear Collider publishes its Technical Design Report

A five-volume report containing the blueprint for a future particle physics project, the International Linear Collider, was published on 12 June 2013. The Technical Design Report (TDR) marks the completion of many years of globally coordinated R&D and completes the mandate of the Global Design Effort. It contains all the elements needed to propose the ILC to collaborating governments, including a technical design and implementation plan, that are realistic and have been optimised for performance, cost and risk.

Feature

A spin-off of ILC technology – already

On 15 March, scientists working on the Quantum Beam Technology Program at KEK’s superconducting RF test facility (STF) confirmed the successful generation of X-rays using Inverse Compton Scattering (ICS) with superconducting radiofrequency (SCRF) acceleration technology. This is the world’s first successful implementation of ICS X-ray sources with SCRF technology.

Around the world

Good signal, little noise

A concept to save space and power for future particle detectors called power pulsing has recently been tested and proven to work on one of the possible calorimeter options for the future ILC detectors. The silicon-tungsten electromagnetic calorimeter prototype took data in test beam and magnet at the German lab DESY. The project is currently run by groups from France and Japan.

Director's Corner

Cost under review

The final deliverable of the Global Design Effort, the ILC Technical Design Report, was completed and submitted in draft form to the International Linear Collider Steering Committee in November 2012. Following a successful technical review of the design in December, an International Cost Review was conducted in February of the value estimate. The cost review validated the TDR value estimates, and pointed out other costing efforts that will be needed as the ILC becomes a site-specific construction project.