What Is the Future for Particle Accelerators? & HCP 2011: Will it Deliver?

Abstract

This year all physics eyes are on the Large Hadron Collider as it approaches its promised landmark discovery of the Higgs Boson (or maybe its undiscovery). At the same time some physicists are planning the future for the next generation of colliders. What will they be like? The answer depends in part on what the LHC finds. Nothing is likely to be built if there is no sign that it will do anything useful, but decisions are overdue and they have to make some choices soon. On the other hand, the rumour mill is once again turning its rusty wheels, and there are suggestions that an interesting result will be revealed at Hadron Collider Physics conference in Paris in the week of November 14, 2011.