PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW --

PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW
OFFICE OF HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

Through fundamental research, scientists have found that all physical matter is composed of apparently point-like particles, called leptons and quarks. These constituents of matter were created following the "big-bang" which originated our universe, and they are components of every object that exists today. We also understand a great deal about the four basic forces of nature: electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, and gravity. For example, in the past we have learned that the electromagnetic and weak forces are two components of a single force, called the electro-weak force. This unification of forces is analogous to the unification in the mid-nineteenth century of electric and magnetic forces into electromagnetism. History shows that, over a period of many years, the understanding of electromagnetism has led to many practical applications that form the technical basis of modern society.

The goal of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) High Energy Physics (HEP) program is to provide mankind with new insights into the fundamental nature of energy and matter and the forces that control them. This program is a major component of the Department's fundamental research mission. Such fundamental research provides the necessary foundation that enables the nation to advance its scientific knowledge and technological capabilities, to advance its industrial competitiveness, and possibly to discover new and innovative approaches to its energy future.

Experimental research in HEP is largely performed by university scientists using particle accelerators located at major laboratories in the U.S. and abroad. Under the HEP program, the Department operates the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) near Chicago, IL and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) near San Francisco, CA. Furthermore, the Department has a significant role in the Large Hadron Collider project under construction at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland. The Tevatron at Fermilab is currently the world's highest energy accelerator. SLAC also provides unique experimental capabilities.

While much progress has been made during the past five decades in our understanding of particle physics, future progress depends to a great degree on the availability of new state-of-the-art technology for accelerators, colliders, and detectors operating at the high energy and/or high intensity frontiers.

Within HEP, the High Energy Technology subprogram supports the research and development required to extend relevant areas of technology in order to support the operations of highly specialized accelerators, colliding beam facilities, and detector facilities which are essential to the goals of the overall HEP program. The DOE SBIR program provides a focused opportunity and mechanism for small businesses to contribute new ideas and new technologies to the pool of knowledge and technical capabilities required for continued progress in HEP research, and to turn these novel ideas and technologies into new business ventures.

For additional information regarding the Office of High Energy Physics priorities, click here.

TOPICS:

35. High-Field Superconductor and Superconducting Magnet Technologies for High Energy Particle Colliders

a. High-Field Superconductor Technology

b. Superconducting Magnet Technology

36. Advanced Concepts and Technology for High Energy Accelerators

a. New Concepts for Acceleration

b. Novel Device and Instrumentation Development

c. Inexpensive High Quality Electron Sources

d. Computer Software and Control Systems

37. Radio Frequency Accelerator Technology for High Energy Accelerators and Colliders

a. Radio Frequency Acceleration Structures

b. Radio Frequency Power for Linear Accelerators

c. New Concepts or Components for Pulsed Power Modulators and Energy Storage

d. Radio Frequency Power for Muon Colliders

38. High Energy Physics Detectors

a. Particle Detection and Identification Devices

b. Detector Support and Integration Components

39. High Energy Physics Data Acquisition and Processing

a. High-Speed Electronic Instrumentation

b. Large Scale Analysis Computer Systems

c. Distributed Collaborative Infrastructure and Distributed Data Management and Analysis Frameworks

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