Physics in a New Era An Overview (2001) / Chapter Skim
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8. National Security
8. National Security
Pages 122-130
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From page 122... ...
Physics was involved directly, as in laser guidance and satellite technology, and indirectly, by virtue of the many areas of basic research that underpin modern electronics, optics, and sensing systems. Scientists engaged in basic research also play a crucial role in evaluating new threats and opportunities arising from technical advances.
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From page 123... ...
These laboratories today have a central missionreducing the global nuclear danger that involves extraordinary challenges in stockpile stewardship, in nonproliferation and arms control, in nuclear materials management, and in the cleanup of the environmental legacy of nuclear weapons activities. They have also shouldered other important responsibilities as the government has recognized new issues that affect the nation's physical and economic security and that require technological solutions.
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From page 124... ...
It challenges computer scientists to utilize effectively new parallel architectures and physical scientists to model properly the complex physical processes that govern weapons behavior. This effort will have impacts well beyond weapons: Other problems of national interest among them the efficiency of internal combustion engines, climate and weather modeling, and the spread of forest fires involve similar numerical and physics challenges.
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From page 125... ...
There are troubling trencis that threaten to weaken both. The basic science activities within the laboratories those activities that maintain the core competencies ancl provide much of the innovationappear to be in significant clecline at Livermore, Los Alamos, ancl Sanclia.
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From page 126... ...
It is a troubling trend given that basic science and physical data should be of increasing importance to stockpile stewardship because they are necessary i nput for the si mu ration efforts. The impact of these reductions was heightened in FY00 by a reduction in laboratory funding for start-up basic research by one-third.
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From page 127... ...
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE In the decades following World War 11, the Department of Defense supported a broad portfolio of basic research at DOD, university, and industrial laboratories. The motivation was the expectation that technical advances would further the nation's capabilities in areas such as surveillance, intelligence gathering, missile defense, communications, stealth technology, and nuclear physics.
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From page 128... ...
Land Warrior, the Army's newest weapons system, provides improved situational awareness, high levels of protection, rapid digital and voice communications, and accurate targeting using thermal and video sighting. Image courtesy of U.S.
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From page 129... ...
DOD support of basic research in physics has moved in step with the overall research buciget since the end of the Cold War, also decreasing by approximately 11 percent, bringing it to just over $122 million in FY01. DOD basic research now represents approximately 6.5 percent of the total federal commitment; by comparison, the DOE budget for basic research, at $2.3 billion, represents about 13 percent.
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From page 130... ...
The decline of DOD laboratory basic science capabilities and activities raises issues similar to those raised at the DOE laboratories. In earlier decades, the DOD laboratories had active programs in basic physics research directly relevant to DOD missions.
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