USA lays out strategic vision for particle physics

Yesterday saw the publication of the latest P5 report in the United States. Shorthand for Particle Physics Project Prioritisation Panel, the P5 report is the US equivalent of the European Strategy update that was published last year, and it’s good to see that the two reports present a common vision of the direction our field should take over the coming years.

P5 was charged with developing a 10-year plan for US particle physics, identifying compelling scientific opportunities. Its approach was similar to the European one, based on a broad consultation among the particle physics community.

For the energy frontier, the report is clear. The LHC will be the focus for the US particle physics community for the immediate and short-term future. The report goes on to lay out a bold vision for development of a unique world-class neutrino programme in the US, with the long-term focus being a reformulated Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) hosted at Fermilab. This is a very positive development for the field globally, and it chimes well with the European Strategy, which recommends that: “Europe should explore the possibility of major participation in leading long-baseline neutrino projects in the US and Japan”. The P5 report’s commitment to LBNF allows us to put that recommendation into action, and we’ll be taking a proposal to support coordinated European participation in LBNF to the June meeting of Council.

Throughout the P5 report, there are points of contact with the European strategy, allowing us to develop a joint approach to the full exploitation of the LHC’s potential, and to look beyond the LHC to possible future colliders. Like the European Strategy, this includes support for both linear and circular options, and therefore opens the door to a truly global strategy that has the capacity to build strong projects in all regions into the long term. The synergy between the reports also allows us to progress together as we master the opportunities offered by astroparticle physics.

Of course, we should not be surprised that Europe and the US share a common vision for the development of particle physics. We are all part of one global community, and our long-term planning processes take into account the views of particle physicists from all over the world.  In this way, the US and Asia contribute to the European planning process, Europe and Asia give input to the P5 report, and Europe and the US are invited to take part in Asia’s planning process. This level of global coordination is good for particle physics. It shows the maturity of the field, and our global commitment to advancing the frontiers of human knowledge together.

Rolf Heuer