FY 1998 DOE Budget Request: Physics-Related Programs

This FYI briefly summarizes the following FY 1998 physics-related budget requests of the Department of Energy: Basic Energy Sciences, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, and Nuclear Physics. All quotations are from DOE’s “Budget Highlights and Performance Plan.” Note that dollar figures in this series of FYIs are not adjusted for inflation.

BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES:

DOE requests an increase of $22.5 million, or 3.5% to $672.2 million. Identified as “Highlights of Program Changes” are the following:

+$2.0 million for an “increase in construction to provide full funding for the Combustion Research Facility” (FY 1997: $9.0 million, FY 1998: $11.0 million)
+$4.5 million to provide for “capital equipment funding for the design and fabrication of instrumentation for the Short Pulse Spallation Source enhancement at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center.”
+$15.3 million for “funding for the design of the National Spallation Neutron Source (NSNS) is increased from FY 1997 $7.7 million to FY 1998 $23.0 million”
+$12.0 million which would restore “facility operations to the FY 1996 level. The level of funding decreased in FY 1997 as a result of Congressional direction without additional funds.”

FUSION ENERGY SCIENCES:

There is an apparent reduction of $7.5 million in this budget to $225.0 million. However, this reduction is due to a change in bookkeeping. DOE states, “The program will focus on fusion science, including fusion plasma and general plasma experimental research and alternative concepts to tokamaks. Funding for theoretical research declines.” These and other “Highlights” are specifically identified:

-$24.8 million resulting from TFTR being “placed in Mothball status in FY 1997"
+$9.1 million for “increased funding for operation and research in DIII-D and Alcator C-Mod
+$7.6 million for fabrication of the National Spherical Torus Experiment, “a project which will address fundamental plasma and fusion science issues in an ultra compact tokamak.”
-$7.4 million resulting from “reduced funding for theory”
+$3.7 million to “enhance alternative concepts experiments”
+$0.9 million for an “upgrade of DIII-D
+$3.0 million for “increase for technology development”

DOE explains that it “will continue participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Engineering Design Activities (EDA) (FY 1997 $54.7 million; FY 1998 $54.5 million); culmination of the EDA in FY 1998 will provide a basis for a decision on construction.”

HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS:

DOE requests an increase of $4.9 million, or less than 1%, to $675.0 million. DOE states: “the FY 1998 budget request maintains research activities at near the FY 1997 level, commissions the Fermilab Main Injector and the SLAC-B Factory, and enhances funding for U.S. participation in the Large Hadron Collider. Specific Highlights include:

+$20.0 million for “Large Hadron Collider increases for research, design, fabrication and equipment”
+$20.6 million for increases in CDF and D-Zero detectors at Fermilab
-$49.2 million shown as “Construction: Continue funding for Fermilab Main Injector (FY 1997 $52.0 million; FY 1998 $31.0 million) and SLAC Master Substation Upgrade (FY 1997 $3.0 million; FY 1998 $9.4 million). Initiate design activities for the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) project at Fermilab (FY 1998 $5.5 million) and initiate construction on the C-Zero Area Experimental Hall at Fermilab (FY 1998 $5.0 million). FY 1997 is the last year of construction funding for the B-Factory (FY 1997 $45.0 million; FY 1998 $0.0 million)

Additional funding is included for the transfer of the responsibility of newly generated wastes.

Regarding the Large Hadron Collider, DOE explains: “an advance appropriation of $394.0 million is requested in FY 1998 to fund DOE’s participation in the international Large Hadron Collider (LHC) collaboration with CERN through FY 2004. An advance appropriation will ensure that the U.S. will be a stable and effective partner in this international effort. DOE will design and fabricate particular subsystems of the accelerator and two large detectors. The total DOE contribution will be $450.0 million from FY 1996 through FY 2004, with much of this funding going to US. laboratories, universities, and industry. Funding prior to FY 1998 was provide for preliminary R&D, design and engineering work as follows: FY 1996 $6.0 million and FY 1997 $15.0 million. In FY 1998, $35.0 million is requested to begin fabrication of subsystems and components for the Large Hadron Collider. The $394.0 million will be made available as follows: $FY 1999 $65.0 million, FY 2000 $70.0 million, FY 2001 $70.0 million, FY 2002 $70.0 million, FY 2003 $65.0 million, and FY 2004 $54.0 million.”

NUCLEAR PHYSICS:

DOE requests an increase of $16.6 million, or 5.3%, to $332.5 million. DOE states: “Enhanced FY 1998 funding for Nuclear Physics will provide increased funding for Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider pre-operations at Brookhaven (+$8.0 million). The RHIC project at Brookhaven is still under construction and scheduled for completion in FY 1999. The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory (TJNAF) will be able to deliver continuous beam to all three experimental halls by FY 1998. Fabrication of a new detector at the Bates Laboratory at MIT begins in FY 1998. Operations and research at the Radioactive Ion Beams (RIB) facility at ORNL will continue at the FY 1997 level with additional funding provided for capital equipment to expand beam variety. Construction funding for RHIC (included in the Science Asset Acquisition request) continues on schedule (TEC $486.9 million, FY 1997-$65.0 million, and FY 1998-$76.0 million to complete the project). Specific Highlights are:

+$8.0 million for “Heavy Ion Nuclear Physics increases funding for RHIC pre-operations, inventory, and capital equipment.”
+$11.0 million for “Construction funding for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) increases to provide advanced funding to complete the project in FY 1999 (TEC $486.9 million, FY 1997 $65.0 million; FY 1998 $76.0 million).”