Nuclear Physics A$$3 (1993) 409c--414c North-Holland, Amsterdam

Physics in a changing wor|d i

Herwig Schopper President of the German Physical Society

NUCLEAR PHYSICS A

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I. The unity of physics.

We are living in a world which is changing fast and physics being a part of it is also going through a rapid progress in all its parts. Breathtaking devdopments oecurre in nuclear and elementary particle physics and ! would be tempted to talk about these achievements. However:. i must limit myself to the following re- marks.

One can observe two apparently contradicting developments. On one hand we find an ever growing specialization: theory and experiment can hardly be handled anymore by one person, nuclear and elementary particle physics are separated when it comes to detailed questions, instruments and techniques, computing and data evaluation are now special fields, not to speak of the separation between nuclear and subnuclear physics on one side and the many departments of solid state and atomic physics.

On the other hand a beautiful unification of different fields is taking place. Nuclear and particle physics start t~, speak the same language again. Nuclei are not just an assembly of protons and neutrons but quarks and gluons start to play a role. One might argue whether the search for the quark-gluon plasma belongs to nuclear or particle physics. At CERN nuclear physicists working with heavy ions are using the same facility as particle physicists, the SPS. (Indeed I am very happy that we could approve the heavy ion program even during the difficult time of LEP construction).

Even more fascinating is the amalgamation of nuclear, particle and astrophysics which provides completely new aspects for cosmology. The formation of light nuclei, a matter of nuclear physics, combined with the LEP results on the number of different kinds of neutrinos tell us that the dark matter in the universe cannot consist in its majority of baryonic matter. To discover the nature of this dark matter is a question that will we decided probably by experiments either in nuclear or particle physics laboratories. The problem of the neutrino masses and possible oscillations again links together nuclear, particle and astrophysics. The Higgs field, invented for the spontaneous symmetry breaking in the Standard Model is the basis for the inflationary models of the universe. Renormalisation and the theory of phase transitions bridge the apparent gap between solid state

I International Nuclear Physics Conference, Wiesbaden July 26 - August 1, 1992

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410c H. Schopper I Physics in a changing world

and nuclear-particle physics.

it is this possibility to understand the incredible and confusing variety of pheno- mena on the basis of a few fundamental principles which makes physics so fascinating. The unification of physics, still imperfect and maybe never comple- ted, provides us nevertheless with a new understanding (a new "Weltbiid") of nature in which we are imbedded and contributes in a deep way to human culture.

To move the frontier fimher into the unknown adequate facilities will be needed a l ~ in the future. Of course, the push to higher energies will continue, but the attack should go on on all frontiers. This implies that further progress should not rely entirely on one or two supermachines for protons but they have to be complemented by installations lbr electrons and heavy ions and medium energy machines with high intensities Cfactories"). Also non-accelerator experilnents will become more important.

11. Present difficulties.

Science in general, not only nuclear and particle physics, are confronted at present with some serious problems.

1. Financial limitations.

in some countries drastic political changes are taking place and most countries are exposed to serious economic problems. Under these conditions the public and politicians are distracted from long-term scientific issues and devote their atten- tion to urgent daily questions. This diminishing interest in science has the consequence that grow!h rates for :he expenditure of science and development tend at best to zero. The gross expenditure on R + D increased in most indu- strialized countries from about 2.4 % of the gross national product GNP to 2.8 % in the period 1981 to 1986. Since then it practically leveled off. This implies that in a zero sum game it will not be possible to realize all projects which would be justified from a scientific point of view. Priorities will have to be set, difficult. choices will have to be made and times scales will have to stretched.

i should like to make a few remarks concerning the special situation of Germany. From 1980 to 1990 the support of basic research by the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) has been drastically increase.d. In !980 about 29 % of its budget where given to basic research ar:d this fraction has increased to about 40 % in 1990 or in ab~olule figures from approximately 1.6 to 3.2 Billion DM. Of this 14.6 % are used lbr elementary particle physics (including DESY and the German contribution to CERN), 8.6 % for nuclear and heavy ion physics (including GSI), 12.5 % |br space research and 7.6 % lbr solid state research. This favorable situation changed drastically after German unification. The funds necessary for the salvation of the universities and research institutions

H. Schopper I Physics in a changing world 41 i c

in East Germany turned out to be much higher then originally expected and they can only be provided by reducing some programs in West-Germany. In addition it is thought (e.g. "Grossmann Report") that higher priority should be given to life sciences.

Maybe the situation in Germany is at pre~ent more dramatic then in some other European countries but I am afraid that the fundamental economic situations are not so different. Nevertheless there is no reason for dispair. Nuclear and particle physics were in all recent reviews recognized as being extremely successful, not only from the scientific point of view but also in regard to efficiency, internatio- nal cooperation and collaboration between large laboratories and universities and they were nowhere put in question as such. Of course, we shall have to accept that budgets will level off and any available increases will go to other fields. In view of the relatively high level we have achieved during the past decades this can hardly be contested. Nevertheless it should be possible to continue exciting programs within these limits, maybe at a slower pace.

2. Physics and society.

Society in most countries is confronted with burning problems like new political situations in the Eastern countries, economics problems, refugees, unemployment or even civil war. Science and in particular physics are not expected to be of much help in solving these problems and hence the interest of the public and politicians in scientific issues is diminishing, it is certainly true that physics can not contribute essentially to reduce these short term problems. What is not recognized, however, is the fact that without science and physics some of the fundamental long-term issues cannot be settled, e.g. clean energy production, environmental problems, climate, transport and even the severest problems of all, the high birth rate will only come under control by an increase of the standard of living in poor countries with the help of technologies based on science.

Let me quote Albert Einstein. At the opening of the Funkausstellung in Berlin on August 12, 1930 he said: Those shot:ld be ashamed who accept the miracles of science and technology without thought and whG have not understood more than the cow knows of the botanic of the plants it eats with pleasure. Remember that it are the people developing technologies who have made possible true democracy. Because they facilitate not only tile daily work of man, but they make available the works of the finest philosophers, scientists and artists which had been the privilege of a small favored class, to the whole population and thus wake up the people from their sleepy dullness Ony translation!).

Unfortunately most people simply expect (as inquiries have shown): - that science should help to get rid of their head ache or stomach trouble, - that the risk of scientific progress should be kept small, - that the environmental conditions should be improved, - that the antipathy of the large public against everything revolutionary new and

412c H. Schopper I Physics in a changing world

unknown should be respected.

Physics is in a particularly difficult situation to obtain credit for its achievements since there is no "physics industry" like a chemical industry. The fact that many industries are "physics based" (a term invented by the Institute of Physics in UK) is seldom recognized since the time it takes for a physics invention to get into the market is relatively long and requires an additional effort. Indeed to convert basic results into products requires about 10 to 15 time the effort which was needed to obtain the basic result. There are exceptions, however, e.g. the tunneling micros- cope which needed only a few years to become an instrument for production or the method t'or producing Fullerenes in large quantities which was a spin-of of nuclear research in astrophysics. There are many examples, of course, for basic discoveries who have changed the daily life of the whole population, like electri- city, x-rays, electromagnetic waves (based on the unification of electrical and magnetic forces!). I am convinced that the discovery of some fundamental effects of our days will have similar far reaching consequences, although our imagination is inadequate to predict them, as Faraday, when asked, was unable to foresee the application of magnetic induction. It is impressive to realize that about 50 % of the US GNP comes from technologies which are less than 30 years old.

III. What can and should we do ?

How can we cope with the situation as described above?

More international cooperation

Competition among nations or regions might be necessary in technological fields, in the market, but not in basic research with large facilities. Nuclear as well as particle physics are considered as outstanding examples for the coopera- tion in the exploitation of large facilities. Here improvements are hardly possible. Where we can do much better is in the long range planning of new facilities. In this respect one must admit that we have lost the leadership in world wide coordination to other fields, e.g. fusion development. In nuclear physics an initiative has been started, the ICHIA, where such a world wide planning is attempted by involving both, scientists and government representa- tives, and one can only wish that it will be fully supported. In particle physics a similar effort in the 80ties unfortunately did not result in a world wide comple- mentary program.

2. Public relations with honesty

A big effort should be made to convince the public and the politicians of the relevance of basic research, including nuclear and particle physics. A certain popularization combined with simplification is, of course, unavoidable. But great care must be taken not to confuse this with completely misleading or even dishonest statements, if large projects in our fields are defended by arguments

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like “research with particle accelerators has resulted and will result in plastics for medical use, solutions for DNA research and virus remedies, maybe even for AIDS, soil erosion and down-water management,...“, we run an enormous danger of loosing all credibility. I believe we have better arguments and do not have to use such “creative public relations and tinancing” to explain the relevance of our science.

Our information campaigns should not be limited to politicians and representatives of funding agencies but should address itself also to teachers, students and even elementary schools. It is there were the tendencies and acceptance for long-term developments are formed.

3. Development of realistic and imaginative programs.

Programs must be developed and presented which reflect at the same time realism and inspiration. The future of our tields is determined, of course, by the funds society is prepared to make available, but even more so by the attraction we offer to young people. Hence the programs for the future must give a long-term perspective. On the other hand it will be necessary to accept the financial limita- tions imposed on us. This might imply a lengthening or delaying of some projects which is unfortunately in contradiction with the fact that the career of physicists is limited in time. A necessary consequence could be that the role of physicists will have to be seen in a different way implying that the majority wiil not be able to participate in a project from its start to its completion, a situation which is not unfamiliar to other domains of science and technological development.

4. Setiing 9f priorities.

In the past is was often possible to present programs which contained all projects which were scientifically justified. In future it is likly that even some good projects cannot be funded. As a result it seems necessary that the scientists themselves are prepared to agree on priorities. This might sometimes be painful but if it cannot be achieved the decisions on priorities will be taken at some administrative level with much less scientific competence.

5. Relations to Eastern countries.

One of the major concerns to the scientific community is the question in which way one can help the newly formed democracies in Eastern Europe. There is no easy general answer which could be given since the situation is quite different in the countries of the former USSR on one side and in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania on the other.

The situation seems to be particularly sever in Russia. The old system of scienti- fic organizations does not work any more, scientists have lost their privileges and are not respected in the same way as before since they are not considered to be so

helpful to overcome the present economic difficulties. Sometimes it has become a

pure matter of survival. As a consequence several aid programs have been considered, even at the highest political levels with the aim to provide minimal salaries at least for some categories of scientists. I am afraid that these programs wilt fail, be it because of legal, bureaucratic or financial reasons. In addition it is my opinion that they lack a certain dignity. What our colleagues in the East need

is not charity hut partnership.

A program which is less ambitious but promises immediate help is an initiative started by the American Physical Society to establish cooperation% I am glad that also the European Physical Society is considering similar initiatives. Apart from financial aid we must help our colleagues to carry out the change from a state- controlled system to a free democratic scientific community which is able to compete on an international level. Among other things this will require a change of mentality which is not easy and takes time. 13ut only then a new basis for cooperation will be achieved.

The situation is less dramatic in oiber Pastern countries but also they need our help to overcome their former isolation. Programs for the organization of confe- rences and workshops, the exchanges of research physicists and students are considered by the EPS and some national physical societies or have even started to function. The German Physical Society is attaching great importance to this issue and is in the procedure of signing various partnership agreements. Initiatives to deliver scientitic literature free or at reduced prices are underway and different mechanisms are considered to provide advice wherever it is wanted. A more intense dialogue between physicists in the East and West seems necessary since there is still a lack of mutual understandings in many areas and it seems important to learn from our colleagues in the East what they consider to be the most urgent actions to be taken.

Nuclear and particle physics spearheaded international collaboration after the war in Europe and later between the blocks separated by the iron curtain. This curtain has disappeared but many mental curtains still exist, new national problems spring up and Europe is still far from being truly united. New challenges appear to which physicists can and will respond again ! Being a physicist is a privilege not only because we can participate in the noble endeavor to reveal the secrets of nature and thus contribute to the basis of human culture. The laws of science and the scientific language and mentality are the only ones accepted in the whole world. thus facilitating international cooperation. We have profited from this fact in the past not only to advance our field but also to contribute to a better under- standing and to the creation of confidence among people of different nation, believes and races. I am convinced we will continue this effort also in the future in a new situation of the world.