In 2010 we celebrated 50 years since commissioning of the first particle storage ring ADA in Frascati (Italy) that also became the first electron-positron collider in 1964. After that date the particle colliders have increased their intensity, lumino
sity and energy by several orders of magnitude. Namely, because of the high stored beam currents and high rate of useful physics events (luminosity) the modern electron-positron colliders are called factories. However, the fundamental physics has required luminosities by 1-2 orders of magnitudes higher with respect to those presently achieved. This task can be accomplished by designing a new generation of factories exploiting the potential of a new collision scheme based on the Crab Waist (CW) collision concept recently proposed and successfully tested at Frascati. In this paper we discuss the performance and limitations of the present generation electron-positron factories and give a brief overview of new ideas and collision schemes proposed for further collider luminosity increase. In more detail we describe the CW collision concept and the results of the crab waist collision tests in DAFNE, the Italian PHi-factory. Finally, we briefly describe most advanced projects of the next generation factories based on the CW concept: SuperB in Italy, SuperKEKB in Japan and SuperC-Tau in Russia.
In order to achieve luminosities significantly higher than in existing machines, future storage-ring based colliders will need to operate in novel parameter regimes combining ultra-low emittance, large Piwinski angle and high bunch charge; implementa
tion of techniques such as a crab waist will add further challenges. Understanding the beam-beam interaction in these situations will be essential for the design of future very high luminosity colliders. Recent developments in modeling tools for studying beam-beam effects, capable of investigating the relevant regimes, will be discussed and examples, including tests with crab waist collisions in DAFNE, will be presented.
