Unique Aspects:
The major research activity under the Electron Accelerator-Based Physics program consists of:
BaBar detector data—at its peak with a collaboration of more than 600 (of which approximately 200 were supported by DOE), physicists and engineers measure the parameters of the Standard Model (the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix), including its CP violating phase, and determine the masses and decay properties of heavy quark states predicted by Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).
Belle detector data—where a collaboration at its peak with more than 380 members, physicists and engineers make measurements in competition with the BaBar collaboration.
BES detector data— where a collaboration of more than 200 physicists and engineers from 4 countries and over 27 institutions study tau and charm physics.
CLEO-c detector data — detector data where a dedicated program of charm physics studies are carried out and compared with the predictions of Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).
Relationship to Other Programs:
The electron accelerator-based physics program interfaces with other programs in HEP. These include Theoretical Physics (Computational HEP and QCD in particular), Accelerator Science, and Detector R&D. In addition, there are synergies with the electron wakefield accelerator projects such as BELLA and FACET. Outside the DOE, the HEP accelerator-based program is coordinated with the National Science Foundation, through the CESR facility.
Scientific Challenges:
BaBar data analysis and archiving is ongoing. The analysis of the most important, "golden modes", has been completed. Two years more of analysis is anticipated and then an archival period is planned.
BESIII studies of charm physics which should considerably extend the reach of the CLEO-c data set is underway.
There are plans for Super-B Factories in Japan at KEKb and in Italy at Frascati to significantly extend the scientific program of the SLAC and KEK B-Factories, particularly in searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. US participation in these facilities is under consideration, should they go forward. Components of the SLAC B-Factory may be reused at the Italian project.
Projected Evolution
The Energy Frontier: The experience of designing and running the SLAC B-Factory PEP-II accelerator and proposed Super-B factories may lead to useful design improvements of the proposed next generation electron-positron colliders in the TeV energy range and valuable experience in operating very high luminosity accelerators with extremely small beam sizes. These machines could explore the discoveries expected to be found at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in quantitative detail.
The Intensity Frontier: Next generation Super-B Factories have been proposed in Japan and Italy. These colliders will build on the design of PEP-II and the BaBar detector. The Super-B Factories are expected to achieve 50-100 the luminosity of the present generation of machines. Significant improvements in theoretical calculations (particularly lattice QCD) will be required to fully exploit the scientific opportunities.