Cost Saving Opportunities in VLHC
A multi-pronged approach:
- Lower cost magnets expected from a simpler geometry.
- Possibilities of applying new construction techniques in reducing magnet manufacturing costs.
- Possibilities of reducing aperture due to more favorable injection scenario in the proposed common coil magnet system design.
- Possibility of removing the high energy booster (the second largest machine) in the proposed system.
- Possibility of removing main quadrupoles (the second most expensive magnet order) in the proposed combined function magnet design.
Need to examine the viability of these proposals further; need to continue the process of exploring more new ideas and re-examine old ones (they may be attractive now due to advances in technology, etc.); need to keep focus on the bigger picture...
VLHC cost reduction may also come from other advances: cheaper tunneling, development of superconductor technology, etc.