FY 1997 Department of Energy Budget Request: Nuclear Physics
DOE funds research on Nuclear Physics within the General Science and Research account, in the Office of Energy Research. The FY 1997 request for Nuclear is $318.4 million, an increase of $13.9 million, or 4.6 percent, from last year’s appropriation. Details of the FY 1997 request for Nuclear Physics, from DOE’s “FY 1997 Congressional Budget Request: Budget Highlights” document, are quoted below:
“In Nuclear Physics, the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) in Norfolk, Virginia, is now operational, and the construction of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) remains at expected cost and on schedule for completion in FY 1999. Completion of the Radioactive Ion Beam facility (RIB) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will allow for experiments in astrophysics and unstable nuclei. Our FY 1997 request for Nuclear Physics, slightly lower than current fiscal year funding, reflects a decline in construction funding as RHIC nears completion.”
“The Nuclear Physics program conducts research activities needed to understand the structure of atomic nuclei and the fundamental forces required to hold nuclei together. The experimental research program supports particle accelerators and several other research facilities located at National Laboratories and universities. A Nuclear Theory program complements experimental activities. The program supports the operation and maintenance of facilities and the construction of new facilities. Currently under construction is the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a colliding beam accelerator which will study nuclear matter as it undergoes a phase transition to a plasma of gluons and quarks.”
”...In Nuclear Physics emphasis continues to be placed on increased use of existing facilities and completing the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider project.”
“In addition, $203 million is requested in FY 1997 in a separate, government-wide allowance...to fully-fund construction and construction-related activities of three General Science projects from FY 1998 through project completion. The allowance requests that $131 million for RHIC, $37 million for the FermiLab Main Injector, and $35 million for the B-Factory at SLAC be transferred to the Department of Energy. These amounts are not attributed to the Department’s budget totals.
“Enhanced FY 1997 funding for Nuclear Physics will permit the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia and Bates Linear Accelerator at MIT to increase operations slightly over FY 1996. Small funding enhancements are also provided for CEBAF research and pre-operations for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider project at Brookhaven, which is still under construction and scheduled for completion in FY 1999. Other research programs and facility operations remain relatively flat. Construction funding for RHIC is at the planned FY 1997 level ([Total Estimated Cost] $486.9 million, FY 1996 - $65.0 million, FY 1997 - $65.0 million, completion FY 1999). The TEC reflects an increase of $11.6 million and completion delayed by one quarter as a result of funding reductions made by Congress in FY 1996.”
Highlights of Program Changes
Increased funding in Medium Energy Nuclear Physics for research and operations of CEBAF and Bates. +$7.3 million
Heavy Ion Nuclear Physics has enhanced funding for RHIC research staff and pre-operations. +$3.6 million
Accelerator Improvement Project funding at CEBAF and Bates increased to enhance performance +$3.4 million
Other programmatic changes -$0.4 million
