---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18643"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18643"
heading: "High-energy physics"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18643"
units:
  - "Chapter 161 — Department of Energy Research and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — Department of Energy Office of Science Policy"
---

# §18643. High-energy physics

- (a) **Sense of Congress—** It is the sense of Congress that—
  - (1) the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) should incorporate the findings and recommendations of the report of the Particle Physics [Project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) Prioritization [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) entitled “[Building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) for Discovery: Strategic Plan for U.S. Particle Physics in the Global Context” into the planning process of the [Department](/usc/42/18601.md?p=1); and
  - (2) the nations that lead in particle physics by hosting international teams dedicated to a common scientific goal attract the world’s best talent and inspire future generations of physicists and technologists.
- (b) **Program—** As part of the activities authorized under [section 7139 of this title](/usc/42/7139.md), the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall carry out a research [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in elementary particle physics and advanced technology research and development to improve the understanding of the fundamental properties of the universe, including constituents of matter and [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and the nature of space and time.
- (c) **High energy frontier research—** As part of the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (b)](#b), the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall carry out research using high [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) accelerators and advanced detectors, including accelerators and detectors that will function as national user [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4), to create and study interactions of elementary particles and investigate fundamental forces.
- (d) **International collaboration—** The [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall—
  - (1) as practicable and in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies as necessary, ensure the access of [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) researchers to the most advanced accelerator [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and research capabilities in the world, including the Large Hadron Collider;
  - (2) to the maximum extent practicable, continue to leverage [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) participation in the Large Hadron Collider, and prioritize expanding international partnerships and investments in the Long-Baseline Neutrino [Facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment; and
  - (3) to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize engagement in collaborative efforts in support of future international [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) that would provide access to the most advanced accelerator [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) in the world to [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) researchers.
- (e) **Neutrino research—** The [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall carry out research activities on rare decay processes and the nature of the neutrino, which may include collaborations with the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) or international collaborations.
- (f) **Cosmic frontier research—** The [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall carry out research activities on the nature of the primary contents of the universe, including the nature of dark [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and dark matter. These activities shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be consistent with the research priorities identified by the High [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) Physics Advisory [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) or the National Academy of Sciences, and may include—
  - (1) collaborations with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3), or international partners on relevant [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20); and
  - (2) the development of space-based, land-based, water-based, and underground [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and experiments.
- (g) **Facility construction and major items of equipment—**
  - (1) **Projects—** Consistent with the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Science’s [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) management [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, by incorporating the findings and recommendations of the 2014 Particle Physics [Project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) Prioritization [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) (P5) report entitled “[Building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) for Discovery”, support [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) or fabrication of—
    - (A) an international Long-Baseline Neutrino [Facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) based in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k);
    - (B) the Proton Improvement Plan II;
    - (C) Second Generation Dark Matter experiments;
    - (D) the Legacy Survey of Space and Time camera;
    - (E) upgrades to detectors and other components of the Large Hadron Collider; and
    - (F) the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20); and
    - (G) other high priority [projects](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) recommended in the most recent report of the Particle Physics [Project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) Prioritization [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) of the High [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) Physics Advisory [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16).
  - (2) **Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall support [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) of a Long-Baseline Neutrino [Facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) to facilitate the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment to examine the fundamental properties of neutrinos, explore physics beyond the [Standard](/usc/42/1320d.md?p=7) Model, and better clarify the existence and nature of antimatter.
    - (B) **Facility capabilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall ensure that the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-2-A) will provide, at a minimum, the following capabilities:
      - (i) A neutrino beam with wideband capability of 1.2 megawatts of beam power and upgradable to 2.4 megawatts of beam power.
      - (ii) 3 caverns excavated for a 70 kiloton fiducial detector mass and supporting surface [buildings](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) and utilities.
      - (iii) Cryogenic systems to support neutrino detectors.
    - (C) **Start of operations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, ensure that the start of full operations of the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-2-A) occurs before December 31, 2031.
    - (D) **Funding—** Out of [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) authorized to be appropriated under [subsection (k)](#k), there are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) to carry out [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) of the [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-2-A)—
      - (i) $180,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
      - (ii) $255,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
      - (iii) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
      - (iv) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
      - (v) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
  - (3) **Proton Improvement Plan–II accelerator upgrade project—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall support [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) of the Proton Improvement Plan II, an upgrade to the Fermilab accelerator complex identified in the 2014 Particle Physics [Project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) Prioritization [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) (P5) report entitled “[Building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) for Discovery”, to provide the world’s most intense beam of neutrinos to the international Long Baseline Neutrino [Facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and to carry out a broad range of future high [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) physics experiments. The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall work with international partners to enable further significant contributions to the capabilities of that [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20).
    - (B) **Facility capabilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall ensure that the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-3-A) will provide, at a minimum, the following capabilities:
      - (i) A [state](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)-of-the-art 800 megaelectron volt superconducting linear accelerator.
      - (ii) Proton beam power of 1.2 megawatts at the start of LBNF/DUNE, upgradeable to 2.4 megawatts of beam power.
      - (iii) A flexible design to enable high power beam delivery to multiple users simultaneously and customized beams tailored to specific scientific needs.
      - (iv) Sustained high reliability operation of the Fermilab accelerator complex.
    - (C) **Start of operations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, ensure that the start of full operations of the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-3-A) occurs before December 31, 2028.
    - (D) **Funding—** Out of [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) authorized to be appropriated under [subsection (k)](#k), there are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) to carry out [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) of the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-3-A)—
      - (i) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
      - (ii) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
      - (iii) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
      - (iv) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
      - (v) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
  - (4) **Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4), in partnership with the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3), shall support [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) of the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) to survey the cosmic microwave background to test theories of cosmic inflation as described in the 2014 Particle Physics Prioritization [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) (P5) report entitled “[Building](/usc/42/6881.md?p=i-3) for Discovery: Strategic Plan for U.S. Particle Physics in the Global Context.”.[^1]
    - (B) **Consultation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall consult with the private sector, institutions of higher education, [National Laboratories](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3), and relevant Federal agencies to ensure that the [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-4-A) is capable of meeting Federal research needs in accessing the ultra-high [energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) physics of inflation and important neutrino properties.
    - (C) **Experimental capabilities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall ensure to the maximum extent practicable that the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-4-A) will provide, at a minimum, 500,000 superconducting detectors deployed on an array of millimeter-wave telescopes with the required range in frequency, sensitivity, and survey speed that will provide sufficient capability to enable an order of magnitude advance in observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background, delivering transformative discoveries in fundamental physics, cosmology, and astrophysics.
    - (D) **Start of operations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, ensure that the start of full operations of the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-4-A) occurs before December 31, 2030.
    - (E) **Funding—** Out of [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) authorized to be appropriated under [subsection (k)](#k), there are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) to carry out [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C) of the [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) described in [subparagraph (A)](#g-4-A)—
      - (i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
      - (ii) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
      - (iii) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
      - (iv) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
      - (v) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
- (h) **Accelerator and detector upgrades—** The [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall upgrade accelerator [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and detectors, as necessary and appropriate, to increase beam power, sustain high reliability, and improve precision measurement to advance the highest priority particle physics research [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4). In carrying out [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) upgrades, the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall continue to work with international partners, when appropriate and in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k)’ interest, to leverage investments and expertise in critical technologies to help build and upgrade accelerator and detector [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k).
- (i) **Accelerator and detector research and development—** As part of the [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (b)](#b), the [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall carry out research and development in particle beam physics, accelerator science and technology, and particle and radiation detection with relevance to the specific needs of the High [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) Physics [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), in coordination with the Accelerator Research and Development [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) authorized under [section 18648 of this title](/usc/42/18648.md).
- (j) **Underground science—** The [Director](/usc/42/18601.md?p=2) shall—
  - (1) support an underground science [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) consistent with the missions of the [Department](/usc/42/18601.md?p=1) and the scientific needs of the High [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) Physics [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including those articulated in the most recent report of the Particle Physics [Project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) Prioritization [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16) of the High [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) Physics Advisory [Panel](/usc/42/10362.md?p=16), that leverages the capabilities of relevant underground science and engineering [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4);
  - (2) carry out a competitive grant [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to award scientists and engineers at institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and [National Laboratories](/usc/42/7381c–1.md?p=a-3) to conduct research in underground science and engineering; and
  - (3) submit to the Committee on [Energy](/usc/42/6311.md?p=7) and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of [Representatives](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=5) a report on the [inventory](/usc/42/4370m.md?p=14) of underground mines in the [United States](/usc/42/403.md?p=k) that may be suitable for future development of underground science and engineering [facilities](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) and any anticipated challenges associated with repurposing, repair, [facility](/usc/42/11049.md?p=4) siting, or [construction](/usc/42/7479.md?p=2-C).
- (k) **Authorization of appropriations—** Out of [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3) authorized to be appropriated for the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Science in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/18601.md?p=4) to carry out the activities described in this section—
  - (1) $1,159,520,000 for fiscal year 2023;
  - (2) $1,289,891,200 for fiscal year 2024;
  - (3) $1,428,284,672 for fiscal year 2025;
  - (4) $1,499,881,752 for fiscal year 2026; and
  - (5) $1,554,874,657 for fiscal year 2027.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 305, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3147; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10106, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1445.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10106(a)(2), added subsecs. (b) and (c). Former subsecs. (b) and (c) redesignated (d) and (e), respectively.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10106(a)(1), (b), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d), struck it out, and added a new subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Director, as practicable and in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies as necessary, shall ensure the access of United States researchers to the most advanced accelerator facilities and research capabilities in the world, including the Large Hadron Collider.” Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10106(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (e).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10106(a)(1), (c), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f), struck it out, and added a new subsec. (f). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Director shall carry out research activities on the nature of dark energy and dark matter, which may include collaborations with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or the National Science Foundation; or international collaborations.”

Subsecs. (g) to (k). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10106(d), added subsecs. (g) to (k).