An Assessment Of Science Opportunity At The Proposed Deep Underground Science And Engineering Laboratory

为了响应物理学界对这一计划的高度重视，包括将其纳入高能物理顾问小组和核科学咨询委员会最近制定的长期计划，美国国家科学基金会(NSF)和能源部(DOE)正积极参与制定一项计划，将位于南达科他州霍姆斯塔克附近的一个前矿山中的深部地下科学和工程实验室环境(DUSEL)。主要的驱动力是一些物理实验，这些实验需要将先进的探测器放置在地下，以保护它们免受宇宙射线的伤害。然而，在其他领域(地球科学、工程、环境和生物学)也确定了独立的机会，这些领域也将受益于物理实验所需的基础设施。将成立一个委员会来评估拟议中的杜塞尔计划。这项研究将评估(1)为杜塞尔提出的实验可以解决的主要物理问题，(2)正在考虑的杜塞尔基础设施将如何影响物理学以外的领域的研究，(3)在世界各地类似计划的背景下对杜塞尔的需求，以及(4)这些活动在教育和公共宣传等领域的更广泛影响。评估结束时，将发布一份已发表的报告。

In response to the high priority placed on such a program by the physics community, including its inclusion in the most recent long range plans produced by the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel and the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are actively engaged in developing a program for a deep underground science and engineering laboratory environment (DUSEL) to be located in a former mine situated near Homestake, South Dakota. The primary drivers have been a number of physics experiments that require placing advanced detectors underground in order to protect them from cosmic rays. However, independent opportunities have been identified in other fields (geosciences, engineering, environment, and biology) that would also benefit from the infrastructure needed for the physics experiments. A committee will be formed to assess the proposed DUSEL program. The study will assess (1) the major physics questions that could be addressed with the experiments being proposed for DUSEL, (2) how the infrastructure being considered for DUSEL would impact research in fields other than physics, (3) the need for DUSEL in the context of similar programs worldwide, and (4) broader impacts of these activities in areas such as education and public outreach. A published report will be issued at the conclusion of the assessment.