ILC Operating Scenarios

TL;DR

This paper analyzes various operational scenarios for the ILC, focusing on optimizing physics outcomes like Higgs and top measurements, while considering potential upgrades and discoveries over a 20-year period.

Contribution

It provides a detailed study of realistic ILC running scenarios, including luminosity estimates and strategic energy planning for physics goals and potential discoveries.

Findings

Optimized running scenarios for Higgs and top physics.

Estimated integrated luminosity over 20 years.

Potential for energy upgrades based on discoveries.

Abstract

The ILC Technical Design Report documents the design for the construction of a linear collider which can be operated at energies up to 500 GeV. This report summarizes the outcome of a study of possible running scenarios, including a realistic estimate of the real time accumulation of integrated luminosity based on ramp-up and upgrade processes. The evolution of the physics outcomes is emphasized, including running initially at 500 GeV, then at 350 GeV and 250 GeV. The running scenarios have been chosen to optimize the Higgs precision measurements and top physics while searching for evidence for signals beyond the standard model, including dark matter. In addition to the certain precision physics on the Higgs and top that is the main focus of this study, there are scientific motivations that indicate the possibility for discoveries of new particles in the upcoming operations of the LHC or the early operation of the ILC. Follow-up studies of such discoveries could alter the plan for the centre-of-mass collision energy of the ILC and expand the scientific impact of the ILC physics program. It is envisioned that a decision on a possible energy upgrade would be taken near the end of the twenty year period considered in this report.