Issues in Physics & Astronomy Board on Physics and Astronomy · The National Academies · Washington, D.C. · 202-334-3520 · national-academies.org/bpa · Winter 2009 Decadal Survey of Astronomy and Astrophysics Begins Michael McElwain, NRC Mirzayan Fellow & Michael H. Moloney, Astro2010 Study Director he NRC’s Astronomy and Astro tronomy and Astrophysics decadal re- energy astrophysics and cosmology and physics decadal survey— views have played a vital role in the he brings to the survey an extensive TAstro2010—is moving ahead selection of major astronomical activities knowledge about both ground- and space- under the umbrella of the BPA and our and subsequent scientific discoveries. based astronomy. Dr. Blandford is a sister board the Space Studies Board Some decadal survey prioritization high- member of the National Academy of (SSB). NASA, NSF, and DOE are the lights include the development of adaptive Sciences, a fellow of the Royal Society, a sponsors of the survey that has been optics systems, the Very Long Baseline fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, asked to evaluate the field of space- Array, the Hubble Space Telescope, the and a member of the American Academy and ground-based astronomy and James Webb Space Telescope, and the of Arts and Sciences. He was chair of the astrophysics, recommending priorities Spitzer Space Telescope. panel on High-Energy Astrophysics from for the most important scientific and In early September 2008, NAS Presi- Space during the Astronomy and Astro- technical activities of the decade 2010- dent and NRC Chair Dr. Ralph Cicerone physics in the New Millennium survey. He 2020. The principal goals of the study appointed Dr. Roger Blandford to chair the is also a former co-chair of the NRC’s will be to carry out an assessment of survey. Dr. Blandford is the Luke C. Committee on Astronomy and Astrophys- activities in astronomy and astrophys- Blossom Professor of Physics and Pehong ics (CAA) and has served two terms on ics, including both new and previously and Adele Chen Director of the Institute the SSB. identified concepts, and to prepare a for Astrophysics and Cosmology at Between September and November concise report that will be addressed to Stanford University. He is a distinguished 2008, Dr. Blandford worked with the NRC the agencies supporting the field, the theorist with broad expertise in high- See “Astro2010 Begins” on page 8 Congressional committees with jurisdic- tion over those agencies, the scientific community, and the public. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences Committee Over the past 40 years, the As- Reestablished After AMO Decadal Survey Stephen Pratt, Chair, Committee on Atomic, Molecular, and Optical In this issue: Physics he Committee on Atomic, Mo- means for dialog with federal agencies on lecular, and Optical Sciences • Astro2010 Begins. Page 1 AMO science and related fields, to exam- T(CAMOS) is a standing activity of ine emerging topics in AMO science, and • CAMOS Returns. Page 1 the BPA. Committee membership repre- to explore multidisciplinary connections sents the breadth of the atomic, molecular, with other fields of science and technol- • BPA Fall Meeting. Page 2 and optical (AMO) sciences, forming a ogy. We will also provide a venue for • Astro2010 Panels. Page 4 multidisciplinary group of experts from discussion among AMO scientists across universities, government laboratories, and this diverse field. • Astro2010 Survey industry. After a period of dormancy CAMOS will have its first meeting this Committee Meets. Page 5 during the writing of Controlling the Spring, and will also hold a town hall • Committee on Radio Quantum World: The Science of Atoms, meeting at the annual meeting of the Frequencies Meeting. P.6 Molecules, and Photons, the AMO vol- American Physical Society Division of ume of the Physics 2010 Decadal Survey, Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Sciences, • Solid State Sciences CAMOS has been reestablished, and I which will be held in Charlottesville, Committee Meeting. Page 6 have the pleasure of accepting appoint- Virginia in late May. We look forward to ment as its chair. receiving input from the AMO community • Astro2010 Input. Page 7 With my colleagues drawn from across on our future plans. • Free-electron Laser the AMO community, CAMOS plans to Our current outlook is now focused on Assessment Study. Page 10 provide active stewardship of the agenda the science opportunities identified in the laid out in the Controlling the Quantum report Controlling the Quantum World: World report. Our goals are to provide a See “CAMOS” on page 9 2 BPA News · Winter 2009 Highlights of the Fall Meeting of the Board on Board on Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy Marc A. Kastner, Chair James C. Lancaster, Robert L. Riemer, & David B. Lang, BPA Staff Massachusetts Institute of Technology Adam S. Burrows, Vice Chair he Board on Physics and As- The third status report discussed with Princeton University tronomy held its annual Fall meet the Board was the materials synthesis Joanna Aizenberg ing on November 1-2, 2008 at the study, presented by Paul Peercy. The Harvard University T James E. Brau Beckman Center of the National Acad- committee conducting that study exam- University of Oregon emies in Irvine, California. After warmly ined the state of research in the United Philip H. Bucksbaum greeting all in attendance, vice-chair States whose primary focus is discovering Stanford University Adam Burrows, Princeton University, novel materials and growing single crys- Patrick L. Colestock welcomed new members and briefly out- tals of known materials. The principal Los Alamos National Laboratory lined the meeting’s agenda; chair Marc charge of the study is to develop recom- Ronald C. Davidson Kastner, MIT, was unable to attend the mendations on how the United States Princeton University meeting because of illness. should respond to a significant drop-off in Andrea M. Ghez The Board first heard status reports on industry-funded basic research and to University of California at Los Angeles several BPA-sponsored studies that increases in international support for Peter F. Green either have been completed or are nearing these areas. The report has been com- University of Michigan completion. Bill Colson discussed the pleted and is in review, with an expected Laura H. Greene results of a recent study assessing the dissemination time in spring 2009. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign feasibility of free-electron laser technol- The Board then heard from a number Martha P. Haynes Cornell University ogy for naval applications. The study’s of speakers on studies conducted by the Joseph Hezir purpose was to evaluate what scientific National Research Council (NRC) and EOP Group, Inc. limitations exist that might prohibit devel- elsewhere that pertain to energy, and Mark Ketchen oping a free-electron laser system for specifically to the role that science can IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center deployment at sea. The committee found and should play in addressing the Allan H. MacDonald that while there are significant technologi- nation’s energy needs. Lawrence Papay University of Texas at Austin cal and scientific advances that must take spoke first and discussed the NRC’s Pierre Meystre place before such a system can be built, Energy Futures Initiative (AEFI) and the University of Arizona there did not appear to be insurmountable findings of the panel on which he served, Homer A. Neal scientific barriers to the development of the Renewable Electrical Power Panel. University of Michigan such a system. The concept of the AEFI arose in early Jose N. Onuchic University of California at San Diego Ron Davidson, Princeton Plasma 2007 in the National Academies Committee Lisa J. Randall Physics Laboratory and BPA member, on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy Harvard University next gave a summary of the outcome of (COSEPUP) and the NAE Program Com- Charles V. Shank the NRC Review of the Plan for U.S. mittee. AEFI was also inspired by the Janelia Farm, HHMI Fusion Community Participation in the NRC report Rising Above the Gathering Michael S. Turner ITER Project, which was completed in July Storm and the Energy Independence Act University of Chicago 2008. The committee that conducted the of 2007. The volatility of the oil market, the Michael C.F. Wiescher review, chaired by Patrick Colestock, Los public acceptance of the reality of global University of Notre Dame Alamos National Laboratory, concluded warming, and national energy security in its report that U.S. participation in needs provided further motivations for the BPA Staff planning for ITER had been strong rela- AEFI and related projects. AEFI is being Donald C. Shapero, Director Michael H. Moloney, Associate Director tive to its level of contribution to the conducted in two phases: Foundations Robert L. Riemer, Sr. Program Officer project of about 9%. It also found that and Policy. The study is now in phase 1 James C. Lancaster, Program Officer the U.S. fusion program was threatened with the goal of setting up a consistent David B. Lang, Program Officer Caryn J. Knutsen, Program Associate by the unstable commitment to the project set of assumptions and understandings LaVita Coates-Fogle, Sr. Program Assistant embodied in the decision to not fund the upon which policy and other long-term Beth Dolan, Financial Associate first installment of U.S. support to ITER in planned can be based. Under the auspices § FY2008. The committee’s report also of the AEFI, a summit on America’s The Board on Physics and Astronomy is a continuing interdisciplinary body with expertise spanning the various subfields of physics, recommended several goals and metrics to Energy Future was held March 13-14, astronomy, and astrophysics. It serves as a focal point in the National Research Council for issues connected with these fields. The activities be considered in the future development 2008. The plan for the AEFI is to complete of the Board are supported by funds from the National Science of the plan for U.S.