Physics at the beginning of the twenty-first century has reached new levels of accomplishment and impact in a society and nation that are changing rapidly. Accomplishments have led us into the information age and fueled broad technological and economic development. The pace of discovery is quickening and stronger links with other fields such as the biological sciences are being developed. The intellectual reach has never been greater, and the questions being asked are more ambitious than ever before. "Physics in a New Era" is the final report of the NRC's six-volume decadal physics survey. The book reviews the frontiers of physics research, examines the role of physics in our society, and makes recommendations designed to strengthen physics and its ability to serve important needs such as national security, the economy, information technology, and education.
Author(s): Physics Survey Overview Committee, Board on Physics and Astronomy, National Research Council
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 203
Cover......Page 1
Physics in a New Era: An Overview......Page 2
Copyright......Page 3
Preface......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Acknowledgment of Reviewers......Page 12
Contents......Page 14
List of Sidebars......Page 17
Executive Summary ......Page 22
Introduction ......Page 30
Part I - Physics Frontiers......Page 38
1 Quantum Manipulation and New Materials ......Page 40
New Tools for Observation in the Quantum Regime ......Page 41
Manipulating Atoms and Electrons ......Page 43
New Materials ......Page 49
Artificial Nanoscale Structures ......Page 52
Quantum Information and the Engineering of Entangled States ......Page 54
2 Complex Systems ......Page 58
Nonequilibrium Behavior of Matter ......Page 59
Turbulence in Fluids, Plasmas, and Gases ......Page 62
High-energy-density Systems ......Page 64
Physics in Biology ......Page 66
Earth and Its Surroundings ......Page 72
3 Structure and Evolution of the Universe ......Page 76
New Tools: New Windows on the Universe ......Page 77
New Links ......Page 82
Questions and Opportunities ......Page 89
4 Fundamental Laws and Symmetries ......Page 91
Hidden Symmetries and the Standard Model ......Page 92
New Physics for a New Era ......Page 100
The Length Scales of Nature ......Page 107
Part II - Physics and Society......Page 110
5 Physics Education ......Page 112
K-12 Physics ......Page 115
Undergraduate Physics ......Page 117
Graduate Education ......Page 124
Summary ......Page 127
Therapy ......Page 128
Diagnosis ......Page 129
Understanding the Body ......Page 134
Summary ......Page 136
The Ocean-Atmosphere System ......Page 137
Environmental Monitoring and Improvement ......Page 138
Energy Production and the Environment ......Page 141
Summary ......Page 142
The Department of Energy ......Page 143
The Department of Defense ......Page 148
Summary ......Page 151
9 The Economy and the Information Age ......Page 152
Integrated Circuits ......Page 156
Optical-fiber Communication ......Page 159
Information Storage ......Page 165
Summary ......Page 169
Part III - Investing in Our Future: Priorities and Recommendations......Page 170
Foundations ......Page 172
Scientific Priorities and Opportunities ......Page 174
Investing in Physics ......Page 178
Physics Education ......Page 182
Big Physics, Small Physics ......Page 183
National Security ......Page 187
Partnerships ......Page 189
Federal Science Agencies ......Page 191
Physics Information ......Page 192
Index ......Page 194
