285 



III. Status of High-Energy Physics Support After 1965 



The extensive JCAE review of high-energy physics plans and ac- 

 complishments in 1965 appear to have resulted in a tacit decision by 

 the Congress that continued support should be given to the discipline, 

 but at a slower pace. The 1965 policy study by the AEC had called 

 for a steep increase in funding, whereas in fact the support continued 

 at about the 1965 level thereafter. The economic impact of U.S. mili- 

 tary action in Vietnam brought pressure generally on civil programs 

 of the Govermnent, and imposed significant constraints on funding 

 for basic research, including hi^h-energy physics. Inflation resulting 

 from the overseas military action, at the same time, operated as a 

 further discount on the funding level. 



A report by the AEC High Energy Physics Advisory Panel ( Weiss- 

 kopf panel), January 30, 1968, expressed concern over this state of 

 affairs. The level of funding, said the panel chairman in his transmittal 

 letter to Dr. McDaniel, director of the research division of AEC, was 

 insufficient to sustain a "reasonable exploitation of the existing facili- 

 ties." Moreover — 



The development of high-energy physics in the United States is seriously 

 threatened and cannot be maintained within the expected level of support with- 

 out most dangerous consequences. The funds are insufficient to maintain the 

 necessary activities in this field, commensurate with the needs of our universities. 

 The panel is concerned about the adverse consequences of this situation in re- 

 spect to the future development of science in this country and expects that the 

 leadership in this fundamental field will be lost to Western Europe if the financial 

 situation is not significantly improved."'' 



The "only positive element" in the situation, Dr. Weisskopf con- 

 tinued in his letter, was that progress was being maintained on the 

 200-Bev accelerator. 



The decision to proceed with construction of the 200-Bev accelerator 

 meant that the high-energy physicists in the United States would 

 possess in due course the most energetic accelerator in the world ; they 

 would regain this primacy from the Soviet Union, where the Serpu- 

 khov accelerator had recently become operational.^" Moreover, atten- 

 tion was being given, in the planning of the new U.S. machine, to 

 incorporating m it some capability for expansion in its energy level. 



It was f orseeable, on the basis of recent experience with the Stanford 

 accelerator, that completion and activation of the 200-Bev accelerator 

 would confront the Congress with further awkward alternatives in 

 decisionmaking. During the fiscal years 1968 and 1969, in part because 

 of the emphasis on economy imposed by commitments in Vietnam, 

 funds had not been available to support full utilization of accelerators 

 already available. The consequences of this situation were described 

 by the Weisskopf panel as follows (condensation) : 



* * ♦ During the last 2 years, all increases in operating and equipment budgets 

 for high-energy physics have been absorbed by cost escalation and by the advent 

 of SLAC as a new accelerator facility. Hence, the entire programs at other na- 

 tional laboratories and at universities * * * have had to operate at constant or 

 decreasing levels, while the number of university-user groups was growing, and 

 while many new and existing problems have opened up experimental and theo- 

 retical opportunities. 



* Reproduced as app. 2, p. 1207, in AEC authorizing legislation, fiscal year 1969, op. cit. 



»• Dr. McDaniel told the JCAE, Feb. 21, 1968 : "* » • that the Soviet 70-Bev machine 

 that was constructed at Serpulihov. near Moscow, was completed on, roughly their schedule. 

 It produced 76-Bev protons when first turned on and is expected to eventually go as high 

 as 85- to 90-Bev." He added that it was "* * * apparently a very fine machine" (Ibid., 



P- 10*1). . .- .: . 



