So as many are finding out today the world of High Energy Physics (HEP) in the US is having its future further blurred with the announcement from the Office of Science directors announcement that the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) that
“we cannot support the LBNE project as it is currently configured…(this decision) is a recognition that the peak cost of the project cannot be accommodated in the current budget climate or that projected for the next decade”
This is pulled from a letter from Office of Science Director Bill Brinkman (found here)
While I can’t say this is a particularly surprising result given tight budgets and tough political climate as well as the projected $1.5 billion price tag of LBNE…it is very disheartening when I read “for the next decade”
Science Insider (article linked here) does a nice job of explaining the
“latest twist in the long saga to build an underground lab in Homestake”
I think to say that this decision, the recent shutdown of the Tevatron, and the rough forecast of the budget makes the stakes very high for Fermilab and the future science at this lab.
Next week is a Directors review of the LBNE project (http://lbne.fnal.gov/reviews/CD1-review-top.shtml) here at Fermilab where I am sure much discussion and planning will get thrashed out in the coming days.
