Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos : Eleven Science Questions for the New Century

Advances made by physicists in understanding matter, space, and time and by astronomers in understanding the universe as a whole have closely intertwined the question being asked about the universe at its two extremesýthe very large and the very small. This report identifies 11 key questions that have a good chance to be answered in the next decade. It urges that a new research strategy be created that brings to bear the techniques of both astronomy and sub-atomic physics in a cross-disciplinary way to address these questions. The report presents seven recommendations to facilitate the necessary research and development coordination. These recommendations identify key priorities for future scientific projects critical for realizing these scientific opportunities. Title 2 Copyright 3 Preface 8 Acknowledgment of Reviewers 12 Dedication 14 Contents 16 Executive Summary 18 1. Introduction: Where We Are and Where We Can Be 26 2. Foundations: Matter, Space, and Time 32 Background 32 Physics of Matter: The Standard Model and Beyond 33 Physics of Space and Time: Relativity and Beyond 51 The Convergence of Matter and Space-Time Physics 54 3. How Are Matter, Space, and Time Unified? 60 Looking for Signatures of Unification 61 Unification and the Identity of Dark Matter 70 Examining the Foundations of Unification 72 New Opportunities 75 4. How Did the Universe Get Going? 77 Big Bang Cosmology: The Basic Model 77 Refining the Big Bang: The Inflationary Paradigm 80 How Did the Universe Get Its Lumps? 82 The Origin of Matter: Why Are We Here? 89 Gravitational Waves: Whispers from the Early Universe 90 Even Before Inflation: The Initial Conditions 93 New Opportunities 94 5. What Is the Nature of Dark Matter and Dark Energy? 95 An Emerging Cosmic Recipe 95 Exotic Dark Matter 104 Dark Energy 112 Two Major Challenges: Deciphering Dark Matter and Dark Energy 115 New Opportunities 119 6. What Are the Limits of Physical Law? 122 Extreme Cosmic Environments 123 New Challenges in Extreme Astrophysics 129 New Opportunities 146 7. Realizing the Opportunities 149 The Eleven Questions 150 Understanding the Birth of the Universe 157 Understanding the Destiny of the Universe 161 Exploring the Unification of the Forces from Underground 165 Exploring the Basic Laws of Physics from Space 170 Understanding Nature’s Highest-Energy Particles 174 Exploring Extreme Physics in the Laboratory 177 Striking the Right Balance 179 Recommendations 181 Appendixes 190 A. Meeting Agendas 192 B. Call for Community Input 202 C. Project Proposals Received 204 D. Glossary and Acronyms 208 Annotation. Advances made by physicists in understanding matter, space, and time and by astronomers in understanding the universe as a whole have closely intertwined the question being asked about the universe at its two extremes--the very large and the very small. This report identifies 11 key questions that have a good chance to be answered in the next decade. It urges that a new research strategy be created that brings to bear the techniques of both astronomy and sub-atomic physics in a cross-disciplinary way to address these questions. The report presents seven recommendations to facilitate the necessary research and development coordination. These recommendations identify key priorities for future scientific projects critical for realizing these scientific opportunities

Advances made by physicists in understanding matter, space, and time and by astronomers in understanding the universe as a whole have closely intertwined the question being asked about the universe at its two extremes?the very large and the very small. This report identifies 11 key questions that have a good chance to be answered in the next decade. It urges that a new research strategy be created that brings to bear the techniques of both astronomy and sub-atomic physics in a cross-disciplinary way to address these questions. The report presents seven recommendations to facilitate the necessary research and development coordination. These recommendations identify key priorities for future scientific projects critical for realizing these scientific opportunities.

Introduction: Where We Are And Where We Can Be -- Foundations: Matter Space And Time -- How Are Matter Space And Time Unified? -- How Did The Universe Get Going? -- What Is The Nature Of Dark Matter And Dark Energy? -- What Are The Limits Of Physical Law? -- Realizing The Opportunities Committee On The Physics Of The Universe, Board On Physics And Astronomy, Division On Engineering And Physical Sciences, National Research Council Of The National Academies. We are at a special moment in our journey to understand the universe and the physical laws that govern it. In this text, the Committee on the Physics of the Universe has posed 11 questions that encapsulate the most pressing physics issues that we face.