AAAS Meeting: February 2008
Particle Physics and
the Responsible Use of
Public Resources
1
The “Provocative” Issue
Is the very title of this
talk (“Particle Physics
and the Responsible Use
of Public Resources”) an
Oxymoron?
2
Clarifying the “Provocative” Issue
 This presentation is not concerned with
the difficult problem of whether the
nation’s scientific budget is too
large/small with respect to other needs.
 The presentation is focused on
addressing the priority of and
priorities within EPP as part of the
Nation’s budget for scientific
research
3
National Academy Report:
Title!
“Revealing The Hidden
Nature of Space and
Time”
4
National Academy Report: Real
Content
 Recommended Priorities for
the U.S. Program In
Elementary Particle Physics
Over the Next 15 Years
5
A Word About The EPP Committee
 Particle Physicists (9, two from
abroad)
 Other Physicists (5)
 Non Physicists (6)
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Harold T. Shapiro (Chair)
Harold Varmus
Norm Augustine
Etc.!
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Background Data (Physics): What
an Amateur Had to Know
 Particle physics studies the fundamental
constituents of matter and the
evolvingnature of the universe (i.e. all
the particles and forces).
 What is the nature of space and time?
 What are the origins of mass?
 How did the universe begin and how
is it evolving?
Explaining the very large and the
very small
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Background Data (Physics): What
an Amateur Had to Know
 Need to reconcile the Standard
Model [describes the relationships
among the known elementary
particles and three of the four
forces] with the General Theory of
Relativity. That is discover the
forces that ‘unite’ general
relativity and quantum
mechanics.
8
The Next Step: What an Amateur
Had to Know
 To meet this extraordinary
challenge and opportunity requires
controlled experiments at the
Terascale level of energies [i.e. to
be achieved at the LHC and the
proposed ILC], since at these
energy levels the Standard Model
‘breaks down’.
9
The Next Step: The Resource
Challenge
 The LHC [a hadron collider at CERN in
Geneva] is about to commence
operations and data generation.
 The next critical next step is the
proposed ILC is complementary to
the LHC [i.e. is not a hadron collider].
 The cost of the ILC is not yet fully
understood, but it surely is, like
the LHC many billion of dollars.
10
The Sociology and Finance of
Experimental Particle Physics
 Very large experimental teams
working at a small number of major
facilities, principally in North America,
Europe and Japan.
 Students and faculty used to working
‘abroad’
 Major laboratories are “generational”
events and require large up front
expenditures, but they last decades.
11
Rhetorical Questions
Will the U.S. host any of the
major laboratories in the
next decades?
Does U.S. leadership in EPP
require a major laboratory
in the U.S.?
12
Background Data: Policy
 The national budget for EPP has
been stagnant in real terms for
about a decade at about $750
million per annum.
 The key U.S. experimental facilities
are nearing the end of their useful
scientific lives.
13
Background Date: Policy
Budgets abroad [Europe and
Japan] have been
expanding.
Are We in the U.S. Silently
Executing an Exit
Strategy?
14
Key Issue (1)
Should the U.S. give up its
historic position of
leadership in this scientific
arena?
15
Key Issue (2)
Is there a reasonable
strategy available that
would enable the U.S. to
regain, or sustain a position
of leadership?
16
First Step: Assessing the Nature
of the Scientific Agenda
 How exciting are the scientific
opportunities available in
EPP…Really?
17
For the “uninitiated” does Particle Physics
still matter?
 As a committee of skeptics,
outsiders, and insiders, how
exciting were the scientific
opportunities in particle physics?
 First the committee concluded
that particle physics continues to
be a critical component of the
physical sciences.
18
Is This the Right Moment for EPP
 Second the committee concluded
that this was scientifically an
exceptionally exciting time for EPP.
 Third the committee believed that
the technologies now available to
explore the terascale were now
available, and that potentially
profound discoveries lay ahead.
19
The Status of the U.S. Program
Historical Distinction
Major Human Capital Resources
Stagnating Level of Support
Intellectual Center of Gravity (and U.S.
Human Capital) Moving Abroad
 Major U.S. Experimental Facilities Coming
to the End of Their Scientifically Useful
Lives
 No Compelling Follow-On Plan in Place
 Risk of Losing Substantial Resource
Commitments.
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Does “Leadership” In Particle
Physics Matter?
 Continues to be a Critical Part of the
Physical Sciences
 Connected to all the Sciences
 Leadership is Central to the
Realization of the Intellectual,
Economic, Social and Cultural
Dividends
 Leadership Versus Domination
21
Is There a Strategy Available to the U.S.
Program for Sustained Distinction?
 Assume a Reasonable Level of
Resource Commitments [i.e. 2-3%
above inflation]
 Articulate Some Strategic Principles
 Evaluate Alternative Strategies
[“Accelerator” versus “Non
Accelerator”]
 Propose Priorities in the Context of
the Strategic Principles
22
Strategic Principles
 Intrinsic Value of Particle Physics
 Importance of Leadership
 Greater Emphasis on Strategic International
Partnerships
 Need for Vision, Priorities,
Risk
Taking, Flexibility, Responsible Budget
 Diversified Portfolio
 Long Term Planning Including Budget
Planning
23
Ordered Priorities
 LHC Based Experiments at CERN
 Risk Capital for ILC R&D, and Associated
Studies Required to Be Able to Make a
Compelling Bid to Host
 Opportunities at the Intersection of
Astrophysics and Particle Physics
 Neutrino and Proton Decay Probes [Staged
in time]
 Precision Probes of Physics Beyond the
Standard Model
24
Question/Issue
 Can the U.S. government and
the U.S. EPP Community unite
behind a compelling vision [i.e.
a set of priorities] to restore
[maintain] U.S. leadership in
this critical area of science?
25
Answer
 There is an available strategy to
sustain, [restore?] U.S. leadership in
this arena, but only if we are willing
to take some strategic risks.
 Given recent history it is time to
invest some risk capital in order to be
prepared [i.e. continue to have the
option] to sustain [regain] our
leadership.
26
New Dividends/Excitement
 The Global Design Effort (GDE): An
Unprecedented Effort.
 We all owe a great debt of
gratitude to Barry Barrish and his
colleagues from around the world
for their inspired effort.
27
Personal Observation:
Continuing R&D
 I hope that the world-wide effort in
R&D will be coordinated through the
GDE or other suitable mechanism.
There is no alternative to this
continuing cooperation if we are to
use public funds responsibly
28
Financing: An Observation
 Meaningful U.S. participation in the next
exciting stage in EPP will require the
following financial partners:
 THE EXISTING U.S. PROGRAM IN
PARTICLE PHYSICS,
 OTHER ELEMENTS OF DOE,
 NSF, AND,
 ESPECIALLY IF IT IS BUILT IN THE U.S.,
SOME SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS.
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Questions?
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