Funding Scenarios: “Vision for the Future of High-Energy Physics”
The new report, “High Energy Physics Advisory Panel’s Subpanel on Vision for the Future of High-Energy Physics,” (see FYIs #72 and #73) reviews federal funding for high energy physics research. The subpanel found that the program “is severely strained and badly out of balance as it enters FY 1995.” The real buying power of the DOE high energy physics program’s operating and equipment budgets for FY 1995 declined by approximately 20% when compared to FY 1990. Planned upgrades of existing accelerators and 15 new university-based physics research groups further strain the budget. Looking to the future for young high energy physicists, the panel concluded, “prospects for permanent positions are bleak,” with careers “in serious jeopardy.”
The report outlines two funding scenarios for high energy physics research. Both count on funding that will be made available as construction of Fermilab’s Main Injector and SLAC’s B-factory “wind down” after FY 1997. The Department of Energy will also transfer the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) injector at Brookhaven into a new account, taking further pressure off the budget.
“BUDGET SCENARIO A” provides a constant level of funding at the FY 1995 level from FY 1995 to FY 2002. This would be supplemented by a $50 million “bump” in FY 1996, FY 1997, and FY 1998. The additional $150 million, while “modest” is, in the subpanel’s judgement, “crucial in revitalizing the ongoing research program.” Some of the program’s buying power would be restored, accelerator upgrades could continue on schedule, program productivity would be improved, and “further sharp reductions in the scope of the current program” would be avoided. The report continues, “Given this three-year supplement, the subpanel recommends that the U.S. government declare its intention to join in the collaboration constructing the LHC [Large Hadron Collider] at CERN and initiate negotiations toward that goal.”
“BUDGET SCENARIO B” assumes flat funding at the FY 1995 level without the $150 million bump. Restoration of the vitality of the U.S. program would be precluded. Under this scenario, the report recommends that a special HEPAP subpanel convene to review the current program and “recommend appropriate changes and reductions in scope.” They continue, “We do not believe that this problem can be addressed by continued proportional budget decreases at each of the laboratories and in each area of the program. We do believe that new priorities would have to be set that would likely call for sacrificing important parts of the U.S. program in order to preserve quality and productivity in what survives.” After FY 1999, when upgrade and AGS money becomes available, participation in the LHC would be possible. The report states, “In view of the importance of conducting research on the highest energy frontier, the subpanel recommends that the U.S. should still make a commitment to join the LHC, even if the budget remains flat at the FY 1995 level of effort.”
Coincidental to the release of this document is the reporting to the House floor of H.R. 4506, the FY 1995 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill (see FYI #74.) This legislation increases the administration’s request for high energy physics research by $25 million. The accompanying committee report states that this increase is to “partly restore purchasing power lost in funding for ongoing activities in the past two years. The cancellation of the Superconducting Super Collider leaves the base program significantly disabled. Restoration of the base program at existing facilities will require increased resources.” The administration request for construction money for the two upgrades was fully funded in the bill. The LHC was not mentioned. House action on H.R. 4506 is scheduled for June 14.
