Acceleration and collision of ultra-high energy particles using crystal channels

We assume that, independent of any near-term discoveries, the continuing goal of experimental high-energy physics (HEP) will be to achieve ultra-high center-of-mass energies early in the next century. To progress to these energies in such a brief span of time will require a radical change in accelerator and collider technology. We review some of our recent theoretical work on high-gradient acceleration of charged particles along crystal channels and the possibility of colliding them in these same strong-focusing atomic channels. An improved understanding of energy and emittance limitations in natural crystal accelerators leads to the suggestion that specially manufactured nano-accelerators may someday enable us to accelerate particles beyond 10{sup 8} eV with emittances limited only by the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics.