A word from the EP Department Deputy Head -Autumn 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Autumn is transforming nature by giving it new colours, shortening daylight and changing the temperature. Similarly, the start of Long Shutdown 3 has transformed our experimental facilities into busy construction sites. The excitement of data taking has given way to eager teams of technicians, engineers and scientists dismantling, cleaning and refurbishing the areas that will host new detectors and infrastructure in view of a new era of physics research (e.g. ATLAS, CMS). At the same time, the data harvest carefully collected by the experiment collaborations is being analysed and continues producing impressive results. This newsletter catches a small glimpse of these through interesting articles on AMS, ISOLDE, n_TOF, ATLAS and CMS.

The inspiring interviews with Michelangelo Mangano and Alan Guth, as well as the retrospective on hidden particle searches at the SPS featured in this newsletter, show how the measurements and discoveries we are making today build on the vision and work of people who paved the way before us. 

It is thus important that, while working on the present experiments, we also continue preparing the path for the future. This is happening in many ways, as shown through several articles. We continue exploring BSM signatures, considering new rare channels and developing concepts for future experiments. At the same time, we are working on maturing detector, data transmission, firmware and software technologies; we are identifying ways of developing better solutions and avoiding duplication of work by fostering collaboration across experts, e.g. in the areas of online computing, DAQ and control systems, and we are thinking about possible evolutions of the FCC Physics, Experiments and Detectors programme.

Training is equally crucial for securing a bright future for experimental physics. Over the past few months, many summer students have been integrated within our teams to give them a first-hand experience of what it means to work on an experiment and in an international collaboration. The summer students programme is a long-standing tradition at CERN, but this year there was also an additional, first-of-its-kind, training initiative: the STEAM academy! 

To summarise, this EP newsletter offers, as usual, a broad palette of information, impressions and pondering opportunities. I wish you all happy reading,

Giovanna Lehmann
EP Department Head