Page 1 Fundamental Physics at NASA: Two Critical Issues & Fairbank's Principle Presentation for the...

Fundamental

Physics at NASA: Two Critical Issues &

Fairbank's Principle

Presentation for the

From Quantum to

Cosmos

by

Francis Everitt

22 May 2006

Space & Fundamental Physics

Definition by addition, not by exclusion

Observations vs. controlled experiment Many observational missions fundamental to physics

(e.g. COBE, WMAP) BUT, in addition, space opens new pathways to EXPERIMENTS

impossible on Earth

This presentation Some examples, 2 'quests' & 3 'campaigns' 8 ways in which space enables physics experiments Special technical challenges

Crisis at NASA a double crisis for Fundamental Physics

M. Jacob's principle – When facing budget cuts, don't cut programs, enlarge your advocacy base

Testing Einstein – NASA’s Contributions

Gravity Probe B

Two new effects with ultra-accurate gyroscopesLaser Ranging:

to reflectors on Moon (1968+)

The Gravity Probe A clock experiment (1976)

Radar Time Delay:

to Viking Lander on Mars (1976)

to Cassini spacecraft around Saturn (1999+)

Condensed Matter Experiments in Microgravity

Confined Helium Experiment - USMP-4, STS 87 11/97

Lambda Point Experiment - USMP-1, STS-52 10/92 Critical Viscosity of Xenon TAS-1, STS 85 8/97

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS)

AMS seen from MIR, June 4, 1998

Flown on Discovery STS-91, June 1998

The 1999 NASA Fundamental Physics Roadmap I

2 Quests & 3 Campaigns

Missions identified for 2000 - 2015

The 1999 NASA Fundamental Physics Roadmap II

The 1999 NASA Advisory Council Recommendation: Background

A Longstanding General Concern Divided Responsibilities: Code S (Office of Space Sciences) Code U (Microgravity/OBPR)

1980: Code S: "Strategy for Gravitational Physics in the 1980s" [NRC Space Science Board (SSB) Report]

1988: Codes S & U: Space Science in the Twenty-First Century, Imperatives for the Decades 1995 to 2015, vol. 5: Fundamental Physics & Chemistry [SSB Report]

1990: Code S Ad Hoc Committee on Gravitational Physics

1993: Code U Research Announcement NRA 93-0SSA-12 Microgravity Sciences for Physics Missions

1997: Code U Fundamental Physics Discipline Working Group

The 1999 Roadmap, an Integrated Overview

Extract from letter

NAC resolution:

The 1999 NAC Recommendation: Extracts

Aug 3 - 4 Meeting; Oct 15, 1999 letter from NAC Chair to NASA Administrator

NASA Response to NAC Recommendation I

Problem Solved:

a "home room" provided

-- or was it?...

Code S: Cosmic Physics

Tests of fundamental laws relevant to astrophysics and cosmology, e.g. gravitational physics, general relativity, equivalence principle, early universe physics, high energy physics.

Code U: Laboratory Physics

Low temperature physics, condensed matter physics and more general fundamental physics experiments requiring microgravity

…alas, a House still divided

NASA Response to NAC Recommendation II

Code U Outcome: Katrina & Confusion

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Actual

Projected

Katrina: The Demolition of Code U Fundamental Physics

FY '00 Appropriations Request -- $10 M for Code U Fundamental Physics

Enthusiastic response by Mr. Walsh

Inadvertently appropriated to Code S…. & diverted elsewhere

Confusion: Outcome of a breakfast, Congressman Mollohan's Question

build up for atomic clocks

LTMPF completion

Code S Outcome: A Question of Fit

STEP Debriefing, 3 July 2002: Two insightful responses from Paul Hertz

Issue posed: "NASA has a declared interest in Fundamental Physics in a way it didn't 5 to 7 years ago."

Response: "It has now but I'm not sure it didn't 5 to 7 years ago. Still there is a hurdle for a single physics experiment in a culture that looks to observatories."

Issue posed: "All Fundamental Physics experiments require substantial technology development – e.g. cryogenics, clocks, particle detection – what is the mechanism for technology development within NASA?"

Response: "We are not managing technology development well. There is another division of NASA with technology money but this is not managed to meet out technology goals."

A ray of light…. George Komar appointment asDeputy Associate Administrator for Technology (Acting)

The Way Forward – Fairbank's Principle

Fairbank's Principle – Disaster compels creative thought

Thinking Straight about Fundamental Physics in Space 8 ways to great missions NASA's need for new science The European (& Asian) connection

Allies & Actions Allies:

Space Studies Board; House Science Committee; COSPAR; President's Science Advisor; within NASA

Actions: High level presentation to SSB: Chu, Osheroff, Phillips, Taylor, Ting

Meeting with NASA Administrator

Learning the culture of Capitol Hill

A Multiplicity of Opportunity

Above the Atmosphere Optical reference, γ-rays, particle physics (AMS)

Remote Benchmarks Lunar ranging, radar transponder on Mars

Large Distances LISA, ASTROD, LATOR

Reduced Gravity [including drag-free]

Condensed matter, laser cooling, GP-B, LISA, STEP

Quieter seismically Especially LISA & STEP

Varying φ GP-A, SUMO

Varying g STEP

Separation of effects as in GP-B choice of orbit

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