Issues in Physics & Astronomy at the BPA Board on Physics and Astronomy • The National Academies • Washington, D.C. • 202-334-3520 • national-academies.org/bpa • Winter 2006 A U.S. Role in Rare-Isotope Science T.I. Meyer, BPA Staff cluded recommending and comparing activities of other facilities and nations ver 10 years ago, U.S. nuclear FRIB to other potential U.S. initiatives in around the world. scientists proposed construction nuclear science. To better understand the potential Oof a rare-isotope accelerator in These developments in facility defini- impact on the scientific agenda of such a the United States. Such a facility would tion and projected schedule presented the cost reduction, the committee heard enable experiments to elucidate the committee with two main challenges. views from some of the proponents of a structure of exotic, unstable nuclei and First, an effort that had started as an US-FRIB in a public meeting; these indi- provide critical information needed to analysis of the most compelling intellec- viduals gave the committee their views on explain nuclear abundance in the uni- tual territory addressed by a well-defined production techniques and beam intensi- verse. Studies by the NSF-DOE Nuclear facility was transformed into an opposite ties that they judged to be technically Science Advisory Committee supported effort, with the committee focusing first feasible. The primary trade-off indicated this proposal, initially termed the Rare on the scientific questions of highest in these presentations was a modest Isotope Accelerator (RIA). In 2005, DOE importance and then speculating about reduction in the quantity and diversity of and NSF, seeking an independent scien- the technical capabilities that a next- possible isotopes, and a significant reduc- tific assessment, asked the NRC to define generation facility would need to make tion in the multiuser aspects of the facility. the science agenda for a next-generation progress. Second, with a shift in the In developing its conclusions regarding U.S. Facility for Rare Isotope Beams anticipated construction start from 2008 a U.S. facility for rare-isotope beams, the (FRIB). As the study began, DOE an- to 2011 at the earliest, the committee was committee took into account the world- nounced that the budget for what was forced to guess at not only the scientific wide portfolio and the likely time frame in then the RIA should be reduced about in developments more than a decade in the which a FRIB might begin operations half. The study then shifted to an evalua- future but also at the evolving scientific See “Rare-Isotope Science” on page 4 tion of the science that could be accom- plished at a facility so reduced in scope. The revised charge also directed the NRC Ethanol as a Biomass Fuel to evaluate the scientific impact of a rare- Matthew Bowen, Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy isotope beams facility in the overall con- text of the national and international Graduate Fellow nuclear physics programs. The scope of Ed. Note: The National Academies sponsors a members. It also brought to my attention a the committee’s charge explicitly pre- quarterly fellowship program that brings doctoral paper (“Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy students and graduates to Washington. Matthew and Environmental Goals,” Farrell et al. Bowen, a recent Ph.D. from the University of (2006) Science 311: 506-508) by a former In this issue: Washington, joined the BPA for autumn 2006. condensed matter physicist, Daniel Kammen, now a professor of public policy • Rare-Isotope Science. hadn’t come to the National Acad- at the University of California at Berkeley. Page 1 emies to learn about ethanol. As a Kammen and his collaborators were at- IScience and Technology Policy Graduate tempting to definitively settle some of the • Ethanol Fuel. Page 1 Fellow and recent recipient of a Ph.D. in environment and energy questions sur- theoretical particle physics, I was expecting rounding ethanol by directly comparing • Highlights of the Autumn to spend most of my time looking at reports several studies to make clear what the BPA Meeting. Page 2 on rare isotope accelerators and NASA differences between them were. missions. But in the first week of the fellow- Specifically, the group adjusted all of the • Materials Synthesis. Page 5 ship program, when asked for a seminar studies surveyed so that they conformed to topic, I proposed ethanol and soon found a consistent system boundary. The unstated • CMMP 2010. Page 6 myself in charge of organizing the event. goal of Kammen’s study was to move the Researching potential speakers put me in debate over corn ethanol beyond the net • Controlling the Quantum contact with staff from the Board on Energy energy balance question to focus instead on World. Page 7 and Environmental Systems, the Board on greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of Agricultural and Natural Resources, and a petroleum consumption and the potential of • Beyond Einstein. Page 12 number of National Academy of Science See “Ethanol” on page 10 2 BPA News • Winter 2006 Board on Highlights of the Autumn Meeting of the Board on Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy Anneila I. Sargent, Chair Caryn J. Knutsen, BPA Staff developments?” California Institute of Technology Participating on behalf of the recently Marc A. Kastner, Vice Chair he Board on Physics and As- completed AMO 2010 report, Controlling Massachusetts Institute of Technology tronomy met for its annual fall the Quantum World: The Science of Atoms, Joanna Aizenberg meeting on November 4-5, 2006, at Molecules, and Photons, Phillip Bucksbaum Lucent Technologies T the Beckman Center of the National presented the report and thanked the Jonathan Bagger Academies in Irvine, California. Chair BPA for the experience of co-chairing the The Johns Hopkins University Anneila Sargent called the meeting to committee. Ultimately, he noted, in James E. Brau University of Oregon order, thanking everyone for being science it is more important to pick the Ronald C. Davidson present and introducing the new board winners than to identify the losers; telling Princeton University members. Vice chair Marc Kastner the government what the field needs, Raymond J. Fonck described the focus of this meeting: an rather than how the agencies should do University of Wisconsin at Madison overview of the Physics 2010 decadal their jobs, is the more successful ap- Andrea M. Ghez survey, completed reports, the reports in proach. The sponsors were quite pleased University of California at Los Angeles progress, and projects currently being with the report; Dr. Bucksbaum was also Peter F. Green conceived. invited to discuss the report and its orga- University of Michigan The discussion opened with a presen- nizing rubric of compelliing scientific Wick C. Haxton tation on the EPP 2010 report Revealing the opportunities presented in the form of University of Washington Hidden Nature of Space and Time: Chart- questions with DOE’s Basic Energy Sci- Frances Hellman ing the Course for Elementary Particle ences Advisory Committee. University of California at Berkeley Physics, by Jonathan Bagger. He briefly Thomas Theis then presented a status Joseph Hezir EOP Group, Inc. reviewed the structure and content of the report on the CMMP 2010 committee and Erich P. Ippen report, commenting that the United States its interim report, Condensed-Matter and Massachusetts Institute of Technology is probably ahead of many of its world Materials Physics: The Science of the World Allan H. MacDonald partners in terms of thinking globally Around Us (see related article in this University of Texas at Austin about the conception of large research newsletter). Dr. Theis commented that Christopher F. McKee facilites as opposed to thinking globally the committee was examining trends over University of California at Berkeley only about the execution. He added that the past decade in the costs of research, Homer A. Neal the international landscape is evolving and focusing on graduate students and instru- University of Michigan the United States may not be able to mentation; it is not clear that federal Jose Onuchic maintain its lead. Homer Neal provided resources have been able to keep pace University of California at San Diego an overview of the subpanel on university with the perceived escalation. The final William D. Phillips research programs that he is chairing for report of the committee is expected in National Institute of Standards and Technology the NSF/DOE High Energy Physics Advi- mid-2007 and will not only treat the topics Thomas N. Theis IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center sory Panel. A key issue faced by his panel of the interim report in more detail but C. Megan Urry is the rationale for universities to continue will also provide guidance to the scientific Yale University their involvement in elementary particle community and the federal agencies on BPA Staff physics and what they can offer uniquely. how best to move the research forward. Donald C. Shapero, Director The panel is also considering the balance Jonathan Bagger led a discussion of a Van An, Financial Associate between university-based research pro- possible volume of Physics 2010 that Brian D. Dewhurst, Senior Program Associate David B. Lang, Research Associate grams and those at the national laborato- would focus on gravitational physics. Pamela Lewis, Program Associate ries. Informal discussions with several agencies Caryn J. Knutsen, Senior Program Assistant Plasma 2010 committee chair Steven have been positive, he reported, but the Natalia J. Melcer, Program Officer Timothy I. Meyer, Senior Program Officer Cowley presented a status report on the scope of the projects needs careful con- Robert L. Riemer, Senior Program Officer project; he said that the committee’s final sideration. He noted that in some key § report would be completed in Spring 2007. ways, the study of gravity represents one The Board on Physics and Astronomy is a continuing The Plasma 2010 committee has identified of the frontiers of fundamental physics: interdisciplinary body with expertise spanning the various subfields of physics, astronomy, and a host of exciting new opportunities in classical field theories and quantum field astrophysics.