In an intriguing turn of events, Russia is making strides to breathe new life into a particle accelerator from the Soviet era that has remained dormant since the 1990s. The Kurchatov Institute for High Energy Physics has set aside 176 million rubles (approximately $25 million) to evaluate the current state of the incomplete 600 GeV Proton Accelerator and Storage Complex (UNK) located in Protvino, near Moscow. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at reinforcing Russia's technological independence and enhancing its involvement in high-energy physics research.
Although official construction on the UNK was halted in the 1990s, physical work continued until 2013, during which a substantial 21 km tunnel was excavated to a depth of 60 meters, complete with lighting and ventilation systems within the underground experimental hall.
In a recent interview with Russia’s Kommersant newspaper, physicist Mikhail Kovalchuk, who serves as the president of the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, emphasized the significant intellectual and material investments that had gone into the design and development of the UNK before it was put on hold. He pointed out that the imposition of Western sanctions has spurred renewed interest in reviving the project, especially as many scientists who previously contributed to CERN projects have found themselves unable to continue such collaborations.
"Engaging in CERN projects not only allowed us to maintain our scientific capabilities during challenging times but also enriched our knowledge and technology," Kovalchuk remarked. "Today, we stand on our own as a self-sufficient entity."
Anatoli Romaniouk, a Russian particle physicist associated with CERN since 1990, shared his insights with Physics World, stating that revitalizing the UNK could help sustain fundamental physics research within Russia. He expressed hope that if the project comes to fruition, it could assist in mitigating the scientific gap between Russian physics and global advancements.
While specific plans for the accelerator have yet to be unveiled, it is speculated that the energy of the proton beam may be enhanced to reach up to 3 TeV. Romaniouk also noted that the direction of research to be conducted with the accelerator remains uncertain and will depend on emerging ideas from the scientific community.
Some researchers in Russia have proposed that the UNK could be utilized for neutrino production. This would involve placing a neutrino detector nearby to analyze the beam before directing it approximately 4,000 kilometers towards Lake Baikal, where the Baikal Deep Underwater Neutrino Telescope is already operational, situated 1 kilometer below the surface.
"I believe there are certainly areas within high-energy physics where research facilitated by this collider could yield valuable insights," Romaniouk adds, hinting at the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
