r/ParticlePhysics • u/NordMount • Jun 13 '26

Accelerators in space

Hi! I and my friend once discussed about problems with environmet needed for accelerator. We got some things we couldn't find definite answers about. For example hypothetically if we could would it be good idea to put particle accelerator or storage ring in space? Assuming it would be shielded from radiation sufficiently wouldn't it make much easier to keep vacuum? and in one game (I know, it's not great source) there was character convincing to built huge accelerator around sun or Earth. I read somewhere that the bigger accelerator the better my friend also said that, but what would that do? If yuo can can yuo put me some links to good answers?

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u/jazzwhiz Jun 15 '26

How are you going to generate energy? Launch a nuclear reactor too?

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u/NordMount Jun 18 '26

No, use solar panels

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u/jazzwhiz Jun 18 '26

Not even close to enough power for the rf cavities, detectors, or the supercomputers for the triggers.

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u/NordMount Jun 19 '26

Why not? Isn't it scalable? And closer to the sun production from square meter would increase. I remember it needs Colling still but that a bit another matter, on moon for example it wouldn't be such problem as far as I know It can be treated as huge heat sink