AAAS Meeting: February 2008

1. AAAS Meeting: February 2008 • Particle Physics and the Responsible Use of Public Resources

2. The “Provocative” Issue • Is the very title of this talk (“Particle Physics and the Responsible Use of Public Resources”) an Oxymoron?

3. Clarifying the “Provocative” Issue • This presentation is notconcerned 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

4. National AcademyReport: Title! • “Revealing The Hidden Nature of Space and Time”

5. National Academy Report: Real Content • Recommended Priorities for the U.S. Program In Elementary Particle Physics Over the Next 15 Years

6. A Word About The EPP Committee • Particle Physicists (9, two from abroad) • Other Physicists (5) • Non Physicists (6) • Harold T. Shapiro (Chair) • Harold Varmus • Norm Augustine • Etc.!

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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’.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.?

13. 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.

14. Background Date: Policy • Budgets abroad [Europe and Japan] have been expanding. • Are We in the U.S. Silently Executing an Exit Strategy?

15. Key Issue (1) • Should the U.S. give up its historic position of leadership in this scientific arena?

16. Key Issue (2) • Is there a reasonable strategy available that would enable the U.S. to regain, or sustain a position of leadership?

17. First Step: Assessing the Nature of the Scientific Agenda • How exciting are the scientific opportunities available in EPP…Really?

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Ordered Priorities • LHC Based Experiments at CERN • Risk Capital for ILC R&D, and Associated Studies Required toBe 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

25. Question/Issue • Can the U.S. government and the U.S. EPP Community unite behind a compelling vision [i.e. a set ofpriorities] to restore [maintain] U.S. leadership in this critical area of science?

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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

29. Financing: AnObservation • Meaningful U.S. participation in the next exciting stage in EPP will require the following financial partners: • THE EXISTING U.S. PROGRAM INPARTICLE PHYSICS, • OTHER ELEMENTS OF DOE, • NSF, AND, • ESPECIALLY IF IT IS BUILT IN THE U.S., SOME SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDS.

30. Questions?