Feasibility of a practical Muon Collider-like cooling channel

Establish the feasibility of a practical Muon Collider-like ionization-cooling channel that integrates multiple high-field solenoids, RF cavities, and absorbers under realistic engineering conditions while achieving the required muon cooling and maintaining sufficient muon transmission.

Background

Muon ionization cooling has been experimentally demonstrated in principle by the MICE and g-2 experiments, but a full cooling channel suitable for a Muon Collider requires many cooling stages and the integrated operation of high-field solenoids, RF cavities, and absorbers. The paper identifies the feasibility of implementing such a channel under realistic engineering conditions, with adequate cooling and muon transmission, as an unresolved technical issue. This is central to determining whether the collider can achieve its required luminosity performance.

References

Muon cooling remains the biggest risk in the collider's luminosity performance. The principle of ionization cooling of muons has been experimentally demonstrated by MICE and g-2 experiments, but the feasibility of a practical implementation of a Muon Collider-like cooling channel still needs to be established.

— Input to the SCAC Facilities Subcommittee from the U.S. Muon Collider Collaboration  (2609.37117 - Jindariani et al., 29 Sep 2026) in Section “From R&D to demonstration”