OverviewThe mission of the Nuclear Physics program is to promote nuclear physics research through the development and support of basic research scientists and facilities. Nuclear physics research seeks to understand the fundamental forces and particles of nature as manifested in nuclear matter.
As an essential component of that objective, the Nuclear Physics program educates young scientists, provides intellectual, and technical support for other nuclear based technologies, provides access to our facilities for other disciplines, and creates a flow of technical innovations for use outside the program. About 100 students receive their Ph.D.s with support from the Nuclear Physics program each year, more than half of which meet the high demand by nuclear-related industries for those with nuclear training. As part of its base program, Nuclear Physics manages the Nuclear Data program, which measures, evaluates, computes, and disseminates basic information for fusion and fission energy programs and industries, for nuclear medicine and waste remediation programs, and for national security. Many other agencies (NASA, NCI, NIST) use nuclear physics facilities for their own research. Notable is the use by semiconductor manufacturers to develop and test radiation hardened components for earth satellites to be able to withstand cosmic ray bombardment.
Nuclear physics research in the United States is supported mainly by two agencies, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. DOE provides about 85 percent of the funding, much of which is directed toward the development, construction and operation of large state-of-the-art accelerator facilities and detectors at national laboratories. These facilities are used by researchers from laboratories and universities supported by the DOE, NSF, other agencies and from foreign countries.
Last updated 6/03/04.