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Issues in Physics & Astronomy Issues in Physics & Astronomy Board on Physics and Astronomy · The National Academies · Washington, D.C. · 202-334-3520 · national-academies.org/bpa · Summer 2009 Challenges and Opportunities in New Materials Synthesis and Crystal Growth James C. Lancaster, BPA Staff or much of the past 60 years, the Madison), was charged with the respon- ficiently interesting scientifically or relevant U.S. research community dominat- sibility of assessing the health of research for an application—or as often happens, Fed the discovery of new crystalline activities in the United States in this field, both—large single crystals of that material materials and the growth of large single identifying future opportunities and rec- are needed for detailed study. Because of crystals. These efforts placed the country at ommending strategies for the United States common heritage, shared resources, and the forefront of fundamental advances in to reinvigorate its efforts and thereby return strong educational bonds, it is natural to condensed-matter sciences and fueled the to a position of leadership in this field. The combine these related activities—the dis- development of many of the new technolo- committee issued its report this past spring. covery and growth of crystalline materials gies at the core of U.S. economic growth. The two activities in this field— (DGCM)—in a single study. The growth of The opportunities offered by future devel- discovering new crystalline materials and thin, two-dimensional crystalline films also opments in this field remain as promising growing large crystals of these materials— is included in this study because it shares as the achievements of the past. However, have long been intertwined. Here, “crystal- many common scientific and technologi- the past 20 years have seen not only a sub- line material” refers to materials in which cal goals with the growth of bulk, three- stantial deterioration in the United States’ long-range periodicity of atomic positions dimensional materials. capability to pursue those opportunities is critical for the material’s functionality. The research activities falling under but also significant increases in investment It is noted that such materials form a class the DGCM umbrella are broad, spreading by several European and Asian countries distinct from nanomaterials, the function- over traditional academic disciplines such to develop their capacities in these areas. ality of which is defined by attributes gov- as chemistry, materials science, and phys- The Committee for an Assessment of erned by one or more nanometer-sized di- ics and undertaken in institutions such and Outlook for New Materials Synthesis mensions of the sample specimen, whether as university, government, and industrial and Crystal Growth, chaired by Paul crystalline or amorphous. Once a new crys- S. Peercy (University of Wisconsin at talline material is found to be either suf- See “Crystal Growth” on page 12 In this issue: Progress on the Astronomy and • Crystal Growth. Page 1 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, Astro2010 • Astro2010 Progress. Page 1 Michael H. Moloney and Caryn Joy Knutsen, BPA Staff • BPA Spring Meeting. Page 2 s reported in the last newsletter questions and areas of potential discov- • CAMOS Spring Meeting. the various elements of the Na- ery for the next decade. During the May Page 4 Ational Research Council’s Decadal 10-14, 2009 Astro2010 Meeting, known Survey of Astronomy and Astrophysics as the “jamboree,” in Irvine, CA, each SFP • SSSC Spring Meeting. Page 5 (Astro2010) are well underway. Previous presented internal reports to the survey • Plasma Science Spring newsletters have given an in depth descrip- committee and the Program Prioritiza- Meeting. Page 6 tion of the survey structure and timeline. tion Panels (PPPs). This meeting brought together the SFPs and Infrastructure Study • Radio Frequencies Spring Science Frontier Panel Update Groups (ISGs) chairs, survey committee Meeting. Page 7 Over the summer months the five members, and newly appointed (April • BPA Recent Reports. Page 8 Science Frontier Panels (SFPs) have con- 2009) PPPs. Since the jamboree, SFPs have • Space Future Report. Page 10 tinued their work, studying the science white papers and identifying key science See “Astro2010 Progress” on page 14 2 BPA News · Summer 2009 Highlights of the Spring Meeting of the The next presentations were delivered by Tom Gergely and Andrew Clegg, from Board on Physics and Astronomy NSF, and John Zuzek, from NASA, who discussed spectrum management for sci- James C. Lancaster, BPA Staff ence. Dr. Clegg discussed a modification to he Keck Center of the National ing diversity, strengthening the funding of Footnote 5.565 that the ITU is reviewing Academies in Washington, D.C. theory, and to core research (as opposed to and that will be discussed at the upcoming Tserved as the meeting site for this the amount of funding that goes to support World Radiocommunications Confer- year’s spring meeting of the Board on centers and facilities). ence 2012 (WRC12). He noted that radio Physics and Astronomy. After greeting Zakya Kafafi, Director of the Divi- astronomers have a window of opportunity committee members and visitors, Chair sion of Materials Research (DMR) at NSF, here to expand international spectrum Marc Kastner called the meeting to order. spoke next discussing some of the recent regulatory considerations, which ultimate- Much of the first day consisted of dis- changes in DMR’s funding outlook. The ly may help reduce interference to present cussions with representatives from federal NSF budget requests are up this year and future ground- and space-based sub- agencies that support physics and astrono- seeking a 13 percent increase overall in millimeter instruments. Reviewing other my research, or science research in general. FY2009. The Mathematical and Sciences WRC12 science issues, Dr. Gergely stated The overall message about the status of Directorate is seeking a 20 percent in- that about half of the current WRC12 science support in the current administra- crease and DMR is seeking an increase of tion was quite positive. Amy Kaminski almost 25 percent. Dr. Kafafi pointed out and Michael Holland, from the Office of that while NSF provides approximately Management and Budget (OMB), reported 95 percent of the National High Magnetic Board on Physics and Astronomy that they do not anticipate any changes in Field Laboratory’s (NHMFL) funding, Marc A. Kastner, Chair, Massachusetts OMB’s structure and staffing due to the NHMFL is serving an increasingly broad Institute of Technology recent election. OMB is working on the user community and partnership is essen- Adam S. Burrows, Vice-chair, Princeton FY2010 budgets and intends to focus on tial for continued operations of this facility. University cost realism in carrying out the Obama Ad- Dr. Kafafi also reported on the results from Philip H. Bucksbaum, Stanford University ministration’s commitment to significantly an advisory panel on light sources regard- Patrick L. Colestock, Los Alamos National Laboratory increase spending on the physical sciences. ing future facility and instrumentation James Drake, University of Maryland The next speaker, Jean Cottam Allen from needs. Finally, she discussed a U.S.-China James Eisenstein, California Institute of the Office of Science and Technology workshop on nanostructure materials that Technology Policy (OSTP), mentioned that OSTP is was held in Evanston, Illinois in September Andrea M. Ghez, University of California at still in the process of filling politically ap- 2008, and she noted that this is just one of Los Angeles pointed positions, but is moving forward a number of materials networks that are Peter F. Green, University of Michigan in the interim. One focus of OSTP will be developing on the global scale. Laura H. Greene, University of Illinois, improving interagency activities and two of After a short break, Craig Foltz and Urbana-Champaign the interdisciplinary areas that will receive Eileen Friel, from the Astronomical Sci- Martha P. Haynes, Cornell University priority are energy and the environment, ence Division (AST) at the NSF discussed Joseph Hezir, EOP Group, Inc. and STEM education (science, technology, news from their division. They reported on Mark B. Ketchen, IBM Thomas J. Watson engineering and mathematics). the status of a number of the projects AST Research Center Joseph Lykken, Fermi National Accelerator Joe Dehmer reported on developments funds, including the Atacama Large Mil- Laboratory in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) limeter Array (ALMA), which is currently Pierre Meystre, University of Arizona Division of Physics and noted they are under construction. Cost performance is Homer A. Neal, University of Michigan constantly looking for ways to promote good, but ALMA is slightly behind con- Monica Olvera de la Cruz, Northwestern innovative efforts in physics. Among the struction schedule. Development of the University examples cited were the Physics at the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope Jose N. Onuchic, University of California at Information Frontier program focusing on (ATST)—the first large U.S. solar telescope San Diego issues such as quantum information com- constructed in the past 30 years—is pro- Lisa Randall, Harvard University puting, and the Physics of Living Systems ceeding on schedule. The ATST project Charles V. Shank, Janelia Farm, HHMI program, which is now the fastest growing is nearing completion of design and NSF Michael S. Turner, The University of program in his division. The Division of hopes to have final review and completion Chicago Physics remains committed to devoting of compliance with ancillary requirements Michael C.F. Wiescher, University of Notre Dame over 50 percent of its funding to increas- in the summer of 2009. BPA News · Summer 2009 3 agenda items have some relevance to radio ences at the DOE, spoke of the long-term ties in OFES, and the new joint HEDLP astronomy. Speaking from NASA’s per- strategic planning efforts that have been program with NNSA that was started in spective, Dr. Zuzek commented that NASA underway at DOE, developing a roadmap FY 2008, and he discussed the OFES Fu- is completely reliant on continued and for energy research.
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