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Nature 449, 133-135 (13 September 2007) | doi:10.1038/449133a; Published online 12 September 2007

Accelerator physics: The plasma revolution

Navroz Patel1

  1. Navroz Patel is a writer based in New York City.
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Particle accelerators that use plasma technology promise to shake up the fields of high-energy particle physics and cancer treatment. Challenges remain, but smaller, cheaper machines are within reach. Navroz Patel reports.

Beyond the theoretical and engineering challenges of building particle accelerators, sheer cost is a concern for physicists whose work involves accelerating and smashing subatomic particles together at great speed. Many particle physicists think that if the planned International Linear Collider — a US$7-billion electron–positron collider that could begin operation within a decade — gets the go ahead, it may be the last large accelerator to be built for many decades as governments put a squeeze on funding.

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