Empowering the Next Generation of Accelerator Scientists
In collaboration with the Charles University Prague, the CERN Accelerator School (CAS) is proud to present a CAS course on “Circular e+/e- colliders and light sources” in the Czech Republic.
The CERN Accelerator School (CAS) invites you to explore the frontiers of circular electron/positron accelerators. This intensive topical CAS course covers a wide variety of topics relevant for advanced synchrotron radiation light sources and e+/e- colliders. It bridges the gap between fundamental beam physics and the cutting-edge technology required for the world's most ambitious projects.
Aim of the School:
· Provide participants with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of e+/e- colliders and low-emittance electron rings (advanced synchrotron radiation light sources, FCC-ee, SuperKEKB, EIC).
· Equip them with the specialised knowledge and technical skills necessary to contribute to the design, construction, and operation of future accelerators.
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for a diverse audience, including:
- Early-career professionals - from accelerator laboratories, university departments, and companies manufacturing accelerator equipment.
- Postgraduate students and PhD candidates (ie. minimum of Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) - from accelerator science, engineering, or related fields – who wish to join the field.
- Experienced professionals interested in new trends and advancements in the field.
We welcome applications from all countries and nationalities. Please note that applicants are responsible for ensuring that their registration fee and travel costs are covered by their home institute, employer, or themselves.
Programme:
I. Introduction and Overview
- Collider Physics opportunities and motivations: FCC-ee as a Higgs and Electroweak Factory, Physics at SuperKEKB and EIC.
- The Future Circular Collider (FCC) program: Goals, physics case, and overall structure.
- Synchrotron Radiation Light Sources: overview, historic development and challenges, physics at light sources.
II. Accelerator Physics and Technology
- Synchrotron radiation: Radiation properties, SR damping, and consequences.
- Beam dynamics / lattice design: Principles of designing low-emittance lattices.
- Beam Optics and orbit: control and correction.
- Collective effects: Beam-beam interactions, Touschek effect, intrabeam scattering, instabilities, ions, e-cloud, and other collective phenomena.
- RF systems: Accelerating cavities, couplers, power sources.
- Superconducting RF technology: Development and applications.
- Vacuum systems: Requirements for the ultra-high vacuum, materials, equipment.
- Magnet technology: Design and construction of the magnets.
- Instrumentation and diagnostics: Monitoring and controlling the beam properties.
- Injector complex: Generation, acceleration, and injection of electrons and positrons.
- Survey and alignment: techniques to meet the challenging requirements.
III. Specific Topics
- Top-up injection: Continuous injection of particles to maintain a constant beam current.
- Insertion devices: Physics and design for generating synchrotron radiation.
- Polarization: spin polarisation basics, beam energy calibration.
- FCC-ee ring design: Specific challenges and solutions for the 90 km ring. IP region and crab waist design.
- Artificial Intelligence: Optimising beam tuning.
- Impact on the environment: Minimizing the environmental footprint.
In addition to lectures, the course will include hands-on exercises, where the participants directly work with tools and simulations to solve real-world accelerator physics problems.
Important Application Information
Early applicants will be given priority in the selection process. With a limited number of participants, we strongly advise you to apply early to secure your place. Waiting until the application deadline approaches may reduce your chances of being selected. Also keep in mind that there is a limited number of single rooms available which will be given on a first-come-first serve principle. Once the course is full, we will close the registration.
We also offer a limited number of student grants for participants from countries with developing accelerator fields who would otherwise be unable to attend. Note that grant applications must fulfil the same requirements as standard applications. More details can be found under the 'Apply for a Student Grant' section.
Important dates
- Monday 9 February 2026 - registration opens
- Monday 10 August 2026 - Grant Registration deadline
- Sunday 6 September 2026 – final deadline for applications (unless course is fully booked)
- Tuesday 22 September 2026 - registration fee payment deadline
- Sunday 8 November 2026 (afternoon/evening) - participants arrivals
- Friday 20 November 2026 (morning) - departure