The New Charge forNon‐Fusion‐Energy
FES Applications
James W. Van Damon behalf ofFusion Energy Sciences

Presented to FESAC
March 12, 2015

New Charge: The WHAT

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Charge from Congress• Explanatory statement accompanying the FY 2015
enacted budget appropriation (Public Law 113‐325):– The agreement further directs the Office of Science to submit
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House ofRepresentatives and the Senate not later than 180 days afterenactment of this Act a report on the contribution of fusionenergy sciences to scientific discovery and the development
and deployment of new technologies beyond possible
applications in fusion energy.

3Charge to FESAC• Charge letter to FESAC from Acting Director of the Office of Science(February 4, 2015):– Consider a wide range of connections between research performed
through the FES portfolio and other scientific disciplines andtechnological applications.
– Applications beyond fusion energy will naturally focus on the curiosity‐
driven research areas of the FES portfolio (e.g., basic plasma science, lowtemperature plasma, space and astrophysical plasma, etc.) but may also
involve spin‐offs from anywhere in this portfolio.
– Consider scientific and technical applications of fusion and related
plasma science to other branches of science.
– Consider contributions to new scientific developments and technologies
beyond possible applications in fusion energy related, but not limited, toareas such as energy and the environment, materials science, medical
diagnostics and treatment, biology, national security, and industry.
– Comment on how well the contributions of FES are advancing theinterests of society and meeting its needs, and ensuring the Nation’scompetitiveness in the physical sciences and technology.
4New Charge: The WHY• Possible political considerations• Regardless, this is a opportunity for our field
to describe our broader impacts, connections
to other fields of science, and benefits andapplications to society
5New Charge: The HOW• Previous examples in fusion energy sciences field• Examples in other scientific fields

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FES previous example #1• Technology Spinoffs from
the Magnetic Fusion Energy
Program (DOE/OER/OFE
report, February 1984)– Computers– Man‐machine interface– Metal forming– Isotope separation– Electrical welding– Astronomy– Ultraviolet sources– Electric power7

FES previous example #2• The Fusion Connection(DOE/OER/OFE report,1985)– Contributions toIndustry, Defense, andBasic Science Resulting
from ScientificAdvances Made in theMagnetic Fusion EnergyProgram8

FES previous example #3

9(General Atomics, 1989)

FES previous example #4(a)10(Prepared by Argonne National Lab and Fusion Power Associates for DOE, 1996)

FES previous example #4(b)11

FES previous example #5• Summary ofOpportunities in theFusion Energy Sciences
Program (FESAC, 1999)– Chapter 4: Near‐TermApplications• Microelectronics and flatpanel displays• Materials andmanufacturing• Environmentalapplications• Biomedical and food‐safety applications• Plasma propulsion
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FES previous example #6• FuSAC report (NRC,2001)– Chapter 4:Interactions of theFusion Program withAllied Areas ofScience andTechnology

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FES previous example #7• The Surprising Benefits of Creating a Star (Oct 2001)
14– 17‐page brochure; published by GA (R. Callis, editor)

FES previous example #8
Plasmas in the Kitchen
Plasmas and the technologies they
enable are pervasive in our everyday
life. Each one of us touches or istouched by plasma‐enabledtechnologies every day. Products frommicroelectronics, large‐area displays,lighting, packaging, and solar cells tojet engine turbine blades andbiocompatible human implants either
directly use or are manufactured with,and in many cases would not exist
without, the use of plasmas. The result
is an improvement in our quality of lifeand economic competitiveness.
[borrowed from talk by M. Kushner]

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Low Temperature Plasma Science (DOE workshop report, 2008):
Chap 1: Science Challenges and Societal Benefit

FES previous example #9• The Plasma Universe, by Curt
Suplee (Cambridge UniversityPress, 2009, 88 pp)– Chapter 6: Putting Plasmas toWork•••••

A plasma to read byWalls of light
Withdrawal and deposits
Plasmas and human health
When push comes to shove• Publication was sponsored byAPS‐DPP for its semi‐centennial
annual meeting (Nov 2008)– Edited by A. Bhattacharjee– Copyrighted by APS‐DPP16

High Energy Physics example #1• “Interactions with andConnections to Other
Branches of Physics andTechnology” (14 pp,Chapter 9 of NRC/NASreport, 1998)– Cosmology– Astrophysics– Nuclear physics– Atomic physics– Condensed‐matterphysics– Fluid dynamics– Mathematics andcomputational physics
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High Energy Physics example #2• Accelerators forAmerica(symposium report,2010)– Energy &environment– Industry– Medicine– National security– Discovery science18

High Energy Physics example #3• HEP Science Connections& Partnerships Overview(2013)– Non‐HEPAP task force
charged to update the1998 NRC report(especially in the neglectedareas of climate research,biosciences, economics,
and national security)– Draft report: Connectionsof Particle Physics with
Other Disciplines (C. Callanand S. Kachru, Feb 2014)19

Nuclear Physics example #1• Opportunities in
Nuclear Science: ALong Range Plan for
the Next Decade(NSAC report, 2002)– Chapter 4, Section 4:
Impacts andApplications

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Nuclear Physics example #2• The Frontiers of
Nuclear Science: ALong Range Plan
(NSAC report, 2007)– Chapter 5: The
Broader Impacts of
Nuclear Science– Connections to otherfields; applications

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Nuclear Physics example #3• Nuclear Physics:
Exploring the Heart of
Matter (NRC/NAS
decadal report, 2012)– Chapter 3: Societal
Applications and Benefits– Sidebar highlights:• Diagnosing cancer with PET• The Fukushima event—anuclear detective story• Nuclear crime sceneforensics

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Nuclear Physics example #4• Dedicated page (Benefitsof NP) and subpage(Applications of NuclearScience) on the Office ofNuclear Physics web site
• Examples from– Medicine– Homeland security– Industry– Sciences– Workforce development
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New Charge: The WHEN
• Congressional language: 180 days after FY
2015 budget enactment– Dec 10, 2014 + 180 days = ~ June 10, 2015

• Extension: Possible to request this24

New Charge: The WHO• Charge will be addressed by a subcommittee– Being set up by FESAC chair, in consultation withFES• Input will be solicited from the entire FEScommunity25