In focus vacuum innovation

Innovation in vacuum science, technology and engineering provides the unifying theme for this special CERN Courier In Focus report. Vacuum, of course, is an umbrella term for a suite of enabling technologies deployed in all manner of fundamental and applied research endeavours, many of which are explored in our exclusive feature coverage. CERN’s mission in fundamental physics is a case in point, underpinned as it is by a diverse ecosystem of in-house vacuum expertise – not least the unique capabilities and know-how of Building 107’s specialist surface-chemistry team (see p13 and p29). Elsewhere, our correspondents profile vacuum system design, development and deployment in another big-science setting at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden (p5), a large-scale research facility that’s likely to see significant upsides from ongoing progress in vacuum metrology and standardisation (p23). Finally, commercial innovation continues at pace out in the marketplace as the nascent technology supply chain takes shape for hyperloop vacuum-based transportation systems (p35). For the vacuum industry, it seems, opportunity knocks.