PARTICLE ACCELERATORS IN HIGH EARTH ORBIT

Physical constraints on the design of particle accelerators suggest that accelerators with energies in excess of 100 TeV should be constructed in space. Numerous advantages for the design of such an accelerator obtain from its location in space, where microgravity limits stress on its structure, and high vacuum and cryogenic temperatures are easily available. Major issues relevant to the design and cost of such an accelerator in space are identified in this paper. © 1990 Società Italiana di Fisica.