Atomic Energy Commission physical research budget rises $23 million

AEC support of high‐energy research will take the largest slice out of an approximate 10% increase in AEC’s $258.9 million physical‐research budget for fiscal 1967. A more modest rise in the commission’s medium‐energy program will go largely for the proposed Los Alamos meson‐physics facility. Other increases will support new research tools and more intensive operation of older facilities in the low‐energy range, as well as chemistry and metallurgy studies. AEC did not raise by any appreciable amount its support of controlled thermonuclear research. Significantly, the Controlled Thermonuclear Research Review Panel, in its recent report to the Joint Congressional Committee and AEC, warned that the fusion program would “deteriorate rapidly to a secondary role if the present static budget of the AEC is continued” (see PHYSICS TODAY, March 1966, page 60). Approximately 75% of the physical research program (see table below) is conducted at ten sites owned or operated for the commission.