Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Hesheng Chen

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Hesheng Chen

Editor

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

With 30 figures

Editor Hesheng Chen Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS 100049, Beijing, China Email: [email protected]

ISBN 978-7-03-030140-6 Science Press Beijing ISBN 978-3-642-19367-5 e-ISBN 978-3-642-19368-2 Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2011921307 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover design: Frido Steinen-Broo, EStudio Calamar, Spain Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)

Editor-in-Chief Yongxiang Lu

Editorial Committee Yongxiang Lu

Chunli Bai

Erwei Shi

Xin Fang

Zhigang Li

Xiaoye Cao

Jiaofeng Pan

Research Group on Large Research Infrastructures of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Head: Hesheng Chen Members: Hesheng Chen

Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS

Baowen Wei

Institute of Modern Physics, CAS

Tipei Li

Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS

Guozhen Yang

Institute of Physics, CAS

Zhizhan Xu

Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, CAS

Yonglian Yan

Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS

Xiaoming Jiang Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS Ziyu Wu

University of Science and Technology of China, CAS

Shuangnan Zhang Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS Yongjian Ding

Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, CAS

Guanghui Lin

Institute of Botany, CAS

Aimin Zhang

Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS

Jianqiang Zhu

Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, CAS

Fuhai Leng

National Science Library, CAS

Jiangang Li

Institute of Plasma Physics, CAS

Hongjie Xu

Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, CAS

Jun Yan

National Astronomical Observatories, CAS

Feng Pan

Bureau of Planning and Finance, CAS

Weiguang Huang Center for Clean Energy Technology, CAS Tiegang Li

Institute of Oceanology, CAS

Duo Jin

Bureau of Basic Sciences, CAS

Jinghui Guo

Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS

Xu Zhang

Institute of Neuroscience, CAS

Yuanyuan Zhong Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS Shaopeng Chi

Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS

Roadmap 2050

Members of the Editorial Committee and the Editorial Office

*

Foreword to the Roadmaps 2050

China’s modernization is viewed as a transformative revolution in the human history of modernization. As such, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) decided to give higher priority to the research on the science and technology (S&T) roadmap for priority areas in China’s modernization process. What is the purpose? And why is it? Is it a must? I think those are substantial and significant questions to start things forward.

Significance of the Research on China’s S&T Roadmap to 2050 We are aware that the National Mid- and Long-term S&T Plan to 2020 has already been formed after two years’ hard work by a panel of over 2000 experts and scholars brought together from all over China, chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao. This clearly shows that China has already had its S&T blueprint to 2020. Then, why did CAS conduct this research on China’s S&T roadmap to 2050? In the summer of 2007 when CAS was working out its future strategic priorities for S&T development, it realized that some issues, such as energy, must be addressed with a long-term view. As a matter of fact, some strategic researches have been conducted, over the last 15 years, on energy, but mainly on how to best use coal, how to best exploit both domestic and international oil and gas resources, and how to develop nuclear energy in a discreet way. Renewable energy was, of course, included but only as a supplementary energy. It was not yet thought as a supporting leg for future energy development. However, greenhouse gas emissions are becoming a major world concern over

* It is adapted from a speech by President Yongxiang Lu at the First High-level Workshop on China’s S&T Roadmap for Priority Areas to 2050, organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in October, 2007.

Roadmap 2050

the years, and how to address the global climate change has been on the agenda. In fact, what is really behind is the concern for energy structure, which makes us realize that fossil energy must be used cleanly and efficiently in order to reduce its impact on the environment. However, fossil energy is, pessimistically speaking, expected to be used up within about 100 years, or optimistically speaking, within about 200 years. Oil and gas resources may be among the first to be exhausted, and then coal resources follow. When this happens, human beings will have to refer to renewable energy as its major energy, while nuclear energy as a supplementary one. Under this situation, governments of the world are taking preparatory efforts in this regard, with Europe taking the lead and the USA shifting to take a more positive attitude, as evidenced in that: while fossil energy has been made the best use of, renewable energy has been greatly developed, and the R&D of advanced nuclear energy has been reinforced with the objective of being eventually transformed into renewable energy. The process may last 50 to 100 years or so. Hence, many S&T problems may come around. In the field of basic research, for example, research will be conducted by physicists, chemists and biologists on the new generation of photovoltaic cell, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC), high-efficient photochemical catalysis and storage, and efficient photosynthetic species, or high-efficient photosynthetic species produced by gene engineering which are free from land and water demands compared with food and oil crops, and can be grown on hillside, saline land and semi-arid places, producing the energy that fits humanity. In the meantime, although the existing energy system is comparatively stable, future energy structure is likely to change into an unstable system. Presumably, dispersive energy system as well as higher-efficient direct current transmission and storage technology will be developed, so will be the safe and reliable control of network, and the capture, storage, transfer and use of CO 2, all of which involve S&T problems in almost all scientific disciplines. Therefore, it is natural that energy problems may bring out both basic and applied research, and may eventually lead to comprehensive structural changes. And this may last for 50 to 100 years or so. Taking the nuclear energy as an example, it usually takes about 20 years or more from its initial plan to key technology breakthroughs, so does the subsequent massive application and commercialization. If we lose the opportunity to make foresighted arrangements, we will be lagging far behind in the future. France has already worked out the roadmap to 2040 and 2050 respectively for the development of the 3rd and 4th generation of nuclear fission reactors, while China has not yet taken any serious actions. Under this circumstance, it is now time for CAS to take the issue seriously, for the sake of national interest, and to start conducting a foresighted research in this regard. This strategic research covers over some dozens of areas with a longterm view. Taking agriculture as an example, our concern used to be limited only to the increased production of high-quality food grains and agricultural by-products. However, in the future, the main concern will definitely be given to the water-saving and ecological agriculture. As China is vast in territory, · viii ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Population is another problem. It will be most likely that China’s population will not drop to about 1 billion until the end of this century, given that the past mistakes of China’s population policy be rectified. But the subsequent problem of ageing could only be sorted out until the next century. The current population and health policies face many challenges, such as, how to ensure that the 1.3 to 1.5 billion people enjoy fair and basic public healthcare; the necessity to develop advanced and public healthcare and treatment technologies; and the change of research priority to chronic diseases from infectious diseases, as developed countries have already started research in this regard under the increasing social and environmental change. There are many such research problems yet to be sorted out by starting from the basic research, and subsequent policies within the next 50 years are in need to be worked out. Space and oceans provide humanity with important resources for future development. In terms of space research, the well-known Manned Spacecraft Program and China’s Lunar Exploration Program will last for 20 or 25 years. But what will be the whole plan for China’s space technology? What is the objective? Will it just follow the suit of developed countries? It is worth doing serious study in this regard. The present spacecraft is mainly sent into space with chemical fuel propellant rocket. Will this traditional propellant still be used in future deep space exploration? Or other new technologies such as electrical propellant, nuclear energy propellant, and solar sail technologies be developed? We haven’t yet done any strategic research over these issues, not even worked out any plans. The ocean is abundant in mineral resources, oil and gas, natural gas hydrate, biological resources, energy and photo-free biological evolution, which may arouse our scientific interests. At present, many countries have worked out new strategic marine plans. Russia, Canada, the USA, Sweden and Norway have centered their contention upon the North Pole, an area of strategic significance. For this, however, we have only limited plans. The national and public security develops with time, and covers both Foreword to the Roadmaps 2050

· ix ·

Roadmap 2050

diversified technologies in this regard are the appropriate solutions. Animal husbandry has been used by developed countries, such as Japan and Denmark, to make bioreactor and pesticide as well. Plants have been used by Japan to make bioreactors which are safer and cost-effective than that made from animals. Potato, strawberry, tomato and the like have been bred in germfree greenhouses, and value-added products have been made through gene transplantation technology. Agriculture in China must not only address the food demands from its one billions-plus population, but also take into consideration the value-added agriculture by-products and the high-tech development of agriculture as well. Agriculture in the future is expected to bring out some energies and fuels needed by both industry and man’s livelihood as well. Some developed countries have taken an earlier start to conduct foresighted research in this regard, while we have not yet taken sufficient consideration.

Roadmap 2050

conventional and non-conventional security. Conventional security threats only refer to foreign invasion and warfare, while, the present security threat may come out from any of the natural, man-made, external, interior, ecological, environmental, and the emerging networking (including both real and virtual) factors. The conflicts out of these must be analyzed from the perspective of human civilization, and be sorted out in a scientific manner. Efforts must be made to root out the cause of the threats, while human life must be treasured at any time. In general, it is necessary to conduct this strategic research in view of the future development of China and mankind as well. The past 250 years’ industrialization has resulted in the modernization and better-off life of less than 1 billion people, predominantly in Europe, North America, Japan and Singapore. The next 50 years’ modernization drive will definitely lead to a better-off life for 2–3 billion people, including over 1 billion Chinese, doubling or tripling the economic increase over that of the past 250 years, which will, on the one hand, bring vigor and vitality to the world, and, on the other hand, inevitably challenge the limited resources and eco-environment on the earth. New development mode must be shaped so that everyone on the earth will be able to enjoy fairly the achievements of modern civilization. Achieving this requires us, in the process of China’s modernization, to have a foresighted overview on the future development of world science and human civilization, and on how science and technology could serve the modernization drive. S&T roadmap for priority areas to 2050 must be worked out, and solutions to core science problems and key technology problems must be straightened out, which will eventually provide consultations for the nation’s S&T decision-making.

Possibility of Working out China’s S&T Roadmap to 2050 Some people held the view that science is hard to be predicted as it happens unexpectedly and mainly comes out of scientists’ innovative thinking, while, technology might be predicted but at the maximum of 15 years. In my view, however, S&T foresight in some areas seems feasible. For instance, with the exhaustion of fossil energy, some smart people may think of transforming solar energy into energy-intensive biomass through improved high-efficient solar thinfilm materials and devices, or even developing new substitute. As is driven by huge demands, many investments will go to this emerging area. It is, therefore, able to predict that, in the next 50 years, some breakthroughs will undoubtedly be made in the areas of renewable energy and nuclear energy as well. In terms of solar energy, for example, the improvement of photoelectric conversion efficiency and photothermal conversion efficiency will be the focus. Of course, the concrete technological solutions may be varied, for example, by changing the morphology of the surface of solar cells and through the reflection, the entire spectrum can be absorbed more efficiently; by developing multi-layer functional thin-films for transmission and absorption; or by introducing nanotechnology and quantum control technology, etc. Quantum control research used to limit mainly to the solution to information functional materials. This is surely too narrow. In the ·x·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

In terms of computing science, we must be confident to forecast its future development instead of simply following suit as we used to. This is a possibility rather than wild fancies. Information scientists, physicists and biologists could be engaged in the forward-looking research. In 2007, the Nobel Physics Prize was awarded to the discovery of colossal magneto-resistance, which was, however, made some 20 years ago. Today, this technology has already been applied to hard disk store. Our conclusion made, at this stage, is that: it is possible to make long-term and unconventional S&T predictions, and so is it to work out China’s S&T roadmap in view of long-term strategies, for example, by 2020 as the first step, by 2030 or 2035 as the second step, and by 2050 as the maximum. This possibility may also apply to other areas of research. The point is to emancipate the mind and respect objective laws rather than indulging in wild fancies. We attribute our success today to the guidelines of emancipating the mind and seeking the truth from the facts set by the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1979. We must break the conventional barriers and find a way of development fitting into China’s reality. The history of science tells us that discoveries and breakthroughs could only be made when you open up your mind, break the conventional barriers, and make foresighted plans. Top-down guidance on research with increased financial support and involvement of a wider range of talented scientists is not in conflict with demand-driven research and free discovery of science as well.

Necessity of CAS Research on China’s S&T Roadmap to 2050 Why does CAS launch this research? As is known, CAS is the nation’s highest academic institution in natural sciences. It targets at making basic, forward-looking and strategic research and playing a leading role in China’s science. As such, how can it achieve this if without a foresighted view on science and technology? From the perspective of CAS, it is obligatory to think, with a global view, about what to do after the 3rd Phase of the Knowledge Innovation Program (KIP). Shall we follow the way as it used to? Or shall we, with a view of national interests, present our in-depth insights into different research disciplines, and make efforts to reform the organizational structure and system, so that the innovation capability of CAS and the nation’s science and technology mission will be raised to a new height? Clearly, the latter is more positive. World science and technology develops at a lightening speed. As global economy grows, we are aware that we will be lagging far behind if without making progress, and will lose the opportunity if without making foresighted plans. S&T innovation requires us to make joint efforts, break the conventional barriers and emancipate the mind. This is also what we need for further development. Foreword to the Roadmaps 2050

· xi ·

Roadmap 2050

future, this research is expected to be extended to the energy issue or energybased basic research in cutting-edge areas.

Roadmap 2050

The roadmap must be targeted at the national level so that the strategic research reports will form an important part of the national long-term program. CAS may not be able to fulfill all the objectives in the reports. However, it can select what is able to do and make foresighted plans, which will eventually help shape the post-2010 research priorities of CAS and the guidelines for its future reform. Once the long-term roadmap and its objectives are identified, system mechanism, human resources, funding and allocation should be ensured for full implementation. We will make further studies to figure out: What will happen to world innovation system within the next 30 to 50 years? Will universities, research institutions and enterprises still be included in the system? Will research institutes become grid structure? When the cutting-edge research combines basic science and high-tech and the transformative research integrates the cutting-edge research with industrialization, will that be the research trend in some disciplines? What will be the changes for personnel structure, motivation mechanism and upgrading mechanism within the innovation system? Will there be any changes for the input and structure of innovation resources? If we could have a clear mind of all the questions, make foresighted plans and then dare to try out in relevant CAS institutes, we will be able to pave a way for a more competitive and smooth development. Social changes are without limit, so are the development of science and technology, and innovation system and management as well. CAS must keep moving ahead to make foresighted plans not only for science and technology, but also for its organizational structure, human resources, management modes, and resource structures. By doing so, CAS will keep standing at the forefront of science and playing a leading role in the national innovation system, and even, frankly speaking, taking the lead in some research disciplines in the world. This is, in fact, our purpose of conducting the strategic research on China’s S&T roadmap.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Yongxiang Lu President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

· xii ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

CAS is the nation’s think tank for science. Its major responsibility is to provide S&T consultations for the nation’s decision-makings and to take the lead in the nation’s S&T development. In July, 2007, President Yongxiang Lu made the following remarks: “In order to carry out the Scientific Outlook of Development through innovation, further strategic research should be done to lay out a S&T roadmap for the next 20–30 years and key S&T innovation disciplines. And relevant workshops should be organized with the participation of scientists both within CAS and outside to further discuss the research priorities and objectives. We should no longer confine ourselves to the free discovery of science, the quantity and quality of scientific papers, nor should we satisfy ourselves simply with the Principal Investigators system of research. Research should be conducted to address the needs of both the nation and society, in particular, the continued growth of economy and national competitiveness, the development of social harmony, and the sustainability between man and nature. ” According to the Executive Management Committee of CAS in July, 2007, CAS strategic research on S&T roadmap for future development should be conducted to orchestrate the needs of both the nation and society, and target at the three objectives: the growth of economy and national competitiveness, the development of social harmony, and the sustainability between man and nature. In August, 2007, President Yongxiang Lu further put it: “Strategic research requires a forward-looking view over the world, China, and science & technology in 2050. Firstly, in terms of the world in 2050, we should be able to study the perspectives of economy, society, national security, eco-environment, and science & technology, specifically in such scientific disciplines as energy, resources, population, health, information, security, eco-environment, space and oceans. And we should be aware of where the opportunities and challenges lie. Secondly, in terms of China’s economy and society in 2050, we should take into consideration the factors like: objectives, methods, and scientific supports needed for economic structure, social development, energy structure, population and health, eco-environment, national security and innovation capability. Thirdly, in terms of the guidance of Scientific Outlook of Development on science and technology, it emphasizes the people’s interests and development, science and technology, science and economy, science and society,

Roadmap 2050

Preface to the Roadmaps 2050

Roadmap 2050

science and eco-environment, science and culture, innovation and collaborative development. Fourthly, in terms of the supporting role of research in scientific development, this includes how to optimize the economic structure and boost economy, agricultural development, energy structure, resource conservation, recycling economy, knowledge-based society, harmonious coexistence between man and nature, balance of regional development, social harmony, national security, and international cooperation. Based on these, the role of CAS will be further identified.” Subsequently, CAS launched its strategic research on the roadmap for priority areas to 2050, which comes into eighteen categories including: energy, water resources, mineral resources, marine resources, oil and gas, population and health, agriculture, eco-environment, biomass resources, regional development, space, information, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, nano-science, big science facilities, cross-disciplinary and frontier research, and national and public security. Over 300 CAS experts in science, technology, management and documentation & information, including about 60 CAS members, from over 80 CAS institutes joined this research. Over one year’s hard work, substantial progress has been made in each research group of the scientific disciplines. The strategic demands on priority areas in China’s modernization drive to 2050 have been strengthened out; some core science problems and key technology problems been set forth; a relevant S&T roadmap been worked out based on China’s reality; and eventually the strategic reports on China’s S&T roadmap for eighteen priority areas to 2050 been formed. Under the circumstance, both the Editorial Committee and Writing Group, chaired by President Yongxiang Lu, have finalized the general report. The research reports are to be published in the form of CAS strategic research serial reports, entitled Science and Technology Roadmap to China 2050: Strategic Reports of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The unique feature of this strategic research is its use of S&T roadmap approach. S&T roadmap differs from the commonly used planning and technology foresight in that it includes science and technology needed for the future, the roadmap to reach the objectives, description of environmental changes, research needs, technology trends, and innovation and technology development. Scientific planning in the form of roadmap will have a clearer scientific objective, form closer links with the market, projects selected be more interactive and systematic, the solutions to the objective be defined, and the plan be more feasible. In addition, by drawing from both the foreign experience on roadmap research and domestic experience on strategic planning, we have formed our own ways of making S&T roadmap in priority areas as follows: (1) Establishment of organization mechanism for strategic research on S&T roadmap for priority areas The Editorial Committee is set up with the head of President Yongxiang Lu and · xiv ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

(2) Setting up principles for the S&T roadmap for priority areas The framework of roadmap research should be targeted at the national level, and divided into three steps as immediate-term (by 2020), mid-term (by 2030) and long-term (by 2050). It should cover the description of job requirements, objectives, specific tasks, research approaches, and highlight core science problems and key technology problems, which must be, in general, directional, strategic and feasible. (3) Selection of expertise for strategic research on the S&T roadmap Scholars in science policy, management, information and documentation, and chief scientists of the middle-aged and the young should be selected to form a special research group. The head of the group should be an outstanding scientist with a strategic vision, strong sense of responsibility and coordinative capability. In order to steer the research direction, chief scientists should be selected as the core members of the group to ensure that the strategic research in priority areas is based on the cutting-edge and frontier research. Information and documentation scholars should be engaged in each research group to guarantee the efficiency and systematization of the research through data collection and analysis. Science policy scholars should focus on the strategic demands and their feasibility. (4) Organization of regular workshops at different levels Workshops should be held as a leverage to identify concrete research steps and ensure its smooth progress. Five workshops have been organized consecutively in the following forms: High-level workshop on S&T strategies. Three workshops on S&T strategies have been organized in October, 2007, December, 2007, and June, 2008, respectively, with the participation of research group heads in eighteen priority areas, chief scholars, and relevant top CAS management members. Information has been exchanged, and consensus been reached to ensure research directions. During the workshops, President Yongxiang Lu pinpointed the significance, necessity and possibility of the roadmap research, and commented on the work of each research groups, thus pushing the research forward. Special workshops. The Editorial Committee invited science policy Preface to the Roadmaps 2050

· xv ·

Roadmap 2050

the involvement of Chunli Bai, Erwei Shi, Xin Fang, Zhigang Li, Xiaoye Cao and Jiaofeng Pan. And the Writing Group was organized to take responsibility of the research and writing of the general report. CAS Bureau of Planning and Strategy, as the executive unit, coordinates the research, selects the scholars, identifies concrete steps and task requirements, sets forth research approaches, and organizes workshops and independent peer reviews of the research, in order to ensure the smooth progress of the strategic research on the S&T roadmap for priority areas.

Roadmap 2050

scholars to the special workshops to discuss the eight basic and strategic systems for China’s socio-economic development. Perspectives on China’s sciencedriven modernization to 2050 and characteristics and objectives of the eight systems have been outlined, and twenty-two strategic S&T problems affecting the modernization have been figured out. Research group workshops. Each research group was further divided into different research teams based on different disciplines. Group discussions, team discussions and cross-team discussions were organized for further research, occasionally with the involvement of related scholars in special topic discussions. Research group workshops have been held some 70 times. Cross-group workshops. Cross-group and cross-disciplinary workshops were organized, with the initiation by relative research groups and coordination by Bureau of Planning and Strategies, to coordinate the research in relative disciplines. Professional workshops. These workshops were held to have the suggestions and advices of both domestic and international professionals over the development and strategies in related disciplines. (5) Establishment of a peer review mechanism for the roadmap research To ensure the quality of research reports and enhance coordination among different disciplines, a workshop on the peer review of strategic research on the S&T roadmap was organized by CAS Bureau of Planning and Strategy, in November, 2008, bringing together about 30 peer review experts and 50 research group scholars. The review was made in four different categories, namely, resources and environment, strategic high-technology, bio-science & technology, and basic research. Experts listened to the reports of different research groups, commented on the general structure, what’s new and existing problems, and presented their suggestions and advices. The outcomes were put in the written forms and returned to the research groups for further revisions. (6) Establishment of a sustained mechanism for the roadmap research To cope with the rapid change of world science and technology and national demands, a roadmap is, by nature, in need of sustained study, and should be revised once in every 3–5 years. Therefore, a panel of science policy scholars should be formed to keep constant watch on the priority areas and key S&T problems for the nation’s long-term benefits and make further study in this regard. And hopefully, more science policy scholars will be trained out of the research process. The serial reports by CAS have their contents firmly based on China’s reality while keeping the future in view. The work is a crystallization of the scholars’ wisdom, written in a careful and scrupulous manner. Herewith, our sincere gratitude goes to all the scholars engaged in the research, consultation · xvi ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

To precisely predict the future is extremely challenging. This strategic research covers a wide range of areas and time, and adopts new research approaches. As such, the serial reports may have its deficiency due to the limit in knowledge and assessment. We, therefore, welcome timely advice and enlightening remarks from a much wider circle of scholars around the world. The publication of the serial reports is a new start instead of the end of the strategic research. With this, we will further our research in this regard, duly release the research results, and have the roadmap revised every five years, in an effort to provide consultations to the state decision-makers in science, and give suggestions to science policy departments, research institutions, enterprises, and universities for their S&T policy-making. Raising the public awareness of science and technology is of great significance for China’s modernization.

Writing Group of the General Report February, 2009

Preface to the Roadmaps 2050

· xvii ·

Roadmap 2050

and review. It is their joint efforts and hard work that help to enable the serial reports to be published for the public within only one year.

The study of the development strategy for national large research infrastructures is carried out at the same time by a study group of technological experts from the fields like particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, space science, multi-disciplinary platform, nuclear energy, resource & environment, life sciences and high-performance computing, information, management and planning strategy. During the study over a year, the members of the study group conducted exchanges and discussions with their colleagues in different forms. It follows that the study group held seven seminars in succession, participated in many seminars organized by Bureau of Planning and Strategy, the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the development roadmap of key scientific and technological fields and finalized this report through repeated modifications (including two major modifications). The study group has investigated the development roadmaps of large research infrastructures and corresponding mid- and long-term plans made by the USA, EU, UK and some other developed countries, studied the development trend of large research infrastructures in the world and analyzed the current status of national large research infrastructures and the gap between its current status and the demand on the development of science & technology as well as the economic and social development in China. Eventually, the group finalized six key fields, with the emphasis laid on the clarification of the development roadmap of large research infrastructures required by these fields by 2050, including the overall vision, short-, mid- and long-term development goals, and the guidelines for development. On this basis, the study group has determined the main directions of development in different stages and the key scientific and technological problems that may or must be broken through. The roadmap sums up the suggestions put forward by experts in some fields on the candidate projects of large research infrastructures to be initiated in the short-term period (around 2020) and the mid-term (around 2035) period. However, this does not necessarily represent the consensus of experts in this field, the summing-up is only for reference when the planning is made by some department concerned in the future. Due to the specific characteristics of large research infrastructures, the projects to be launched during the long-term period (around 2050) are hard to predict today. Therefore the focus is to analyze

Roadmap 2050

Preface

Roadmap 2050

and look forward to the development trend, and put forward the key scientific and technological problems that may or must be broken through. The group has also put forward some suggestions on the policies concerning systems, resources, talents and others required for the realization of the development goals. This study has made the best use of the results from the study of the national strategic planning for the mid- and long-term scientific and technological development, the studies conducted by the State Development and Reform Commission, and the studies carried out by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on the strategy for developing large research infrastructures. In 2007, Bureau of Basic Research, CAS executed the study on “Outlook of Development of Large Scientific Facilities in the Coming 10 Years”; Bureau of Planning and Finance, CAS conducted the study on “Planning for Development of National Large research Infrastructures”; in 2008, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bureau of Resource Environment Science and Technology, and Bureau of High-tech Research and Development all organized experts to discuss about the requirements of large research infrastructures from the fields of their own disciplines, put forward a lot of valuable suggestions and made quite a number of demonstrations. Based on the results from the above-mentioned studies, and organized and led by Bureau of Planning and Strategy, CAS, our study group launched this study from a higher starting point. This report is divided into 9 chapters. Chapter 1, 2 and 9 were written by Professor Yonglian Yan, Chapter 3 was written by Prof. Hesheng Chen, Baowen Wei and Jiangang Li, and Chapter 4 was written by Prof. Shuangnan Zhang, with some information taken from the “Development Roadmap of Space Technology by 2050 in China”, and the information of some projects provided by Prof. Jianmin Wang (Black Hole Astrophysics), Yuanzhong Zhang (Cosmography), Weiqun Gan and Yihua Yan (Solar Physics), Ji Yang (Chinese South Pole Observatory), Xiangqun Cui (Chinese Large-scale Ground Optical, Infrared, Submillimeter/Millimeter Telescope in the Future), Yongheng Zhao (LAMOST Update and Reformation), Fangjun Lu (XTP Project) and Hongqi Zhang (SST Project). Chapter 5 was pieced together by Prof. Xiaoming Jiang and Ziyu Wu, with the material provided by Prof. Hongjie Xu, Shinian Fu, Li Lu, Long Wei, Jianqiang Zhu, Baowen Wei and Gang Chen. Chapter 6 was written by Prof. Aimin Zhang and Xiaolan Fu (Cognize Sciences), Chapter 7 was pieced together by Prof. Yongjian Ding and Guanghui Lin, with the material provided by Prof. Yongjian Ding, Jun Xia, Fangqiang Wei (geographical science), Guirui Yu (macro ecology), Youbin Sun, Jinghui Guo (solid earth), Tiegang Li (ocean science) and Guibin Jiang (environmental science), and Chapter 8 was written by Prof. Jianqiang Zhu. Here we would like to express our sincere thanks to the leaders of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bureau of Planning and Strategy, Bureau of · xx ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Strategic Study Group of Large Science Facility of the Chinese Academy of Sciences August, 2010

Preface

· xxi ·

Roadmap 2050

Planning and Finance, Bureau of Basic Research, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Bureau of Resource Environment Science and Technology, and Bureau of High-tech Research and Development for their instructions and powerful support rendered to the study group. Thanks also go to many experts for permitting us to incorperate their study results in this report.

Abstract

…………………………………………………………………… 1

1 Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System … 5         ……………………… 5 1.2 Position and Role of Large Research Infrastructures in the Development of the Country ……………………………………………………………………… 6 1.3 Development Trend of Large Research Infrastructures …………………… 9 1.4 The Current Situation and Tasks of Large Research Infrastructures in China ………………………………………………………………………… 13

2

Macro Thought on Development of China’s Large Research Infrastructures in the Next 50 Years ……………………………… 16 2.1 Guideline for Making Roadmap ……………………………………………… 16 2.2 Development Goal ……………………………………………………………… 17 2.3 Guideline for Development …………………………………………………… 20

3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy ………… 22 3.1 Particle Physics ………………………………………………………………… 22 3.2 Nuclear Physics ………………………………………………………………… 33 3.3 Nuclear Energy Application …………………………………………………… 36

4 Astronomy and Space Science …………………………………… 42 4.1 Astrophysical Problems of Black Holes and Other Compact Objects …… 43

Roadmap 2050

Contents

Roadmap 2050

4.2 Origin and Evolution of the Universe and Its Structures …………………… 46 4.3 Impact of the Sun and Solar System on the Earth and the Survival and Development of Human Society ……………………………………………… 50 4.4 Searching for Earth-like Exoplanets and Evidence of Life Beyond the Earth ……………………………………………………………………………… 52 4.5 Global and Long-term Changes of the Earth ………………………………… 54

5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform ……………………………… 55 5.1 Large Advanced Light Source ………………………………………………… 55 5.2 Advanced Neutron Source …………………………………………………… 68 5.3 Experimental Platform of Extreme Physical Conditions …………………… 75 5.4 Ultra-scale Computing Infrastructure ………………………………………… 81 5.5 The Integrated Research Platform for Imaging ……………………………… 84 5.6 Other Multidisciplinary Application Platforms ………………………………… 89

6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology…………………………………… 94 6.1 Rapid Progress in Sequencing Technology to Enable Life Sciences into a New Genomic Era ……………………………………………………………… 95 6.2 Proteomics to Become a New Focus for Life Sciences Research ………… 98 6.3 Systems Biology to Create a Comprehensive Life Study ……………… 101      ! " # $    ……………… 102 6.5 Continuous Advancement in Micro-technology to Promote Exploration for Fine Cell Structure …………………………………………………………… 103 6.6 Cognitive Science …………………………………………………………… 105 6.7 Molecular Crop Design ……………………………………………………… 109 6.8 The Development of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Needs a Big Science Platform …………………………………………………………… 110

7 Resources, Environment and Ecology …………………………… 112 7.1 Geography …………………………………………………………………… 112 7.2 Resources Science and Ecology …………………………………………… 116 7.3 Environmental Science ……………………………………………………… 120

· xxiv ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

7.5 Oceanography………………………………………………………………… 125

8 High-tech and Others ……………………………………………… 128 8.1 Overview of High-tech ……………………………………………………… 128 %&   ' "( ) *  +   ………… 129 %/   +  * ( ) + * …………………… 132

9 Proposed Policies and Measures ………………………………… 143 9.1 Intensify the Efforts to Make and Manage the Planning of National Infrastructures ……………………………………………………………… 143 9.2 Strengthen the Management of the Whole Life Cycle of Infrastructures ………………………………………………………………………………… 144 9.3 Establish the Management Norms Suitable for the Characteristics of Infrastructures ………………………………………………………………… 145 9.4 Reinforce the Cultivation of Talents and Teams for Infrastructures …… 146

References ……………………………………………………………… 147

Epilogue ………………………………………………………………… 148

Contents

· xxv ·

Roadmap 2050

7.4 Earth Science ………………………………………………………………… 122

ADS AFM ALMA BEPC BEPCII BES BSRF CARR CCAT CSNS DOME A EAST ECT ELI ERL Esnet ESS FAIR FAST FDS FIARL fMRI FRET FRIB HGHG HiPER HIRFL-CSR HLS HXMT ICDP ILC ILL ISIS

(Accelerator Driven Sub-critical System) (Atomic Force Microscope) (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) (Beijing Electron Positron Collider) (Upgrade Project of Beijing electron Positron Collider) (Beijing Spectrometer) (Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility) (China Advanced Research Reactor) (Caltech-Cornell Atacama Telescope) (China Spallation Neutron Source) (DOME Argus) (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) (Emission Computed Tomography) (Extreme Light Infrastructure) (Energy Recovery Linac) (Energy Sciences Network) (European Spallation Neutron Source) (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope) (Fusion Driven Sub-critical System) (Facility of Ion-beam Application Research in Lanzhou) (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams) (High Gain Harmonic Generation) (High Power Laser Energy Research Facility) (Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou,Cooler Storage Ring) (Hefei Light Source) (Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope) (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program) (International Linear Collider) (Institut Laue-Langevin) (Spallation neutron source at RAL)

Roadmap 2050

Abbreviations

Roadmap 2050

ITER LAMOST LCLS LHAASO LHC LMJ NIF NSRL PET POLAR RAMPM SASE SDUV-FEL SHARP-X SNS SR SSRF SST STM SVOM VLBI VUV XFEL XTP

· xxviii ·

(International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) (Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopy Telescope) (Linac Coherent Light Source) (Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory) (Large Hadron Collider) (Laser Megajoule) (National Ignition Facility) (National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory) (Positron Emission Computed Tomography) (Polarization Observations of Large Angular Regions) (Random-Access Multi-Photon Microscope) (Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission) (Shanghai Deep Ultraviolet Free Electron Laser) (Super High Angular Resolution Principle X-ray Telescope) (Spallation Neutron Source) (Synchrotron Radiation) (Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility) (Space Solar Telescope) (Scanning Tunneling Microscope) (Space Multi-band Variable Object Monitor) (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) (Vacuum Ultraviolet) (X-ray Free Electron Laser) (X-ray Timing and Polarization Telescope)

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Large research infrastructures constitute an important part of the national innovation system. In recent years, the Chinese government has greatly strengthened the support for the development of large research infrastructures, and expanded the support from the former “large scientific facilities” to “large research infrastructures”. In order to make important breakthroughs in scientific and technological frontiers and solve the strategic, basic and forwardlooking technological problems in economic and social development and the security of the country, the Chinese government will invest in the construction of large facilities, including overall facilities, distributed facilities and research facilities integrated by many independent equipment systems, which provide necessary conditions required by the scientific and technological community and various sectors of the country to conduct scientific research and develop high technologies. Large research infrastructures have greatly impacted the scientific and technological civilization and the economic and social development of human beings. The development trend of large research infrastructures in the world in the past decades merits attention in terms of the following respects: the rapid expansion of the fields, the gradual diversification of the forms, the ever growing of the numbers, the continuous improvement of the levels, and the extension and deepening of influence, the function of large scientific bases and hightech parks supported by large research infrastructures as one of the important components of the national innovation ability and international technological competitiveness and the trend of international joint construction and use due to the increasing scientific goals and growing demand for resources. The developed countries have been making large and steady investment in large research infrastructures. In recent years, the USA, UK, EU and some other countries have made ambitious long-term development plans in succession, which are characterized by putting emphasis on the international competitiveness in science and technology, giving prominence to the scientific frontiers, and aiming at key technological problems related to the ecological environment, resources, energy and health of people from the national, continental, and even global view. The planned projects have great scientific goals, and involve prominent innovations and high technological levels. The implementation of these plans will surely have great impact on the situation of the international competition in science and technology. Before the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, the total investment made by the H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

Roadmap 2050

Abstract

Roadmap 2050

Chinese government in the national large research infrastructures amounted to RMB 5.3 billions, with 34 facilities constructed, covering many fields like particle physics, astronomy, time standard release, remote sensing, geology, ocean, ecology, biological resources, energy and national security. These facilities have greatly enhanced China’s innovative abilities and international competitiveness in relevant fields, and provided important technological support to the basic research, national security, disaster monitoring, resources and ecological investigation. With the swift development of various sectors in China, many key scientific and technological frontiers and key technological problems related to fast and sustained economic and social development have had large demand for large research infrastructures. In the Eleventh Five -Year Plan period, China plans to invest more than RMB 6 billion in constructing 12 facilities, like the Chinese Spallation Neutron Source. It is predicted that the investment will be increased by a big margin, which marks a new period of fast development of the national large research infrastructures. The short-term development goal of the national large research infrastructures is to enhance the level and support capability of the existing facilities, try as much as possible to fill the blanks of the fields urgently required by the national scientific and technological, economic and social development. The overall development of the infrastructures should be able to support the first-class researches in the world and the strategic high-tech development in key fields like life science, materials science, environmental science and energy science, to support Chinese scientists in carrying out featured researches on some hot points of scientific research frontiers in order to achieve original innovative results with important scientific significance, to establish preliminarily several large-scale scientific research bases by relying on these support abilities. Meanwhile, the up-front studies of some facilities to be deployed in the mid-term period are to be completed so as to reserve technologies and teams for future development. Based on the realization of the short-term development goal, China will strive for the realization of the mid-term development goal in about 15 years. The overall development of the infrastructures involving quantity, field coverage, technological level, scientific goal, technological innovation and technological output will reach the international level. Some fields even should stand at the forefront in the world; and some original innovative results with significant influence on disciplinary development will be obtained in some scientific frontiers. They will play an important role in solving relevant technological problems in such fields as environment, energy, resource and health related to sustained social development, and a number of large-scale scientific research bases and high-tech parks supported by these infrastructures will constitute one of the important components of the national innovation system. By the middle of the 21st century (long-term goal), the overall development of the infrastructures in terms of quantity, field coverage, technological level, scientific goal, technological innovation and technological ·2·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Abstract

·3·

Roadmap 2050

output will stand at the forefront in the world, and some fields even will be in a leading position in the world. They will have significant impact on the development of many scientific frontiers in the world, and play an important role in solving relevant significant technological problems in the fields like environment, energy, resource and health related to sustained social development. Supported by these infrastructures, several large-scale scientific research bases and high-tech parks will be established with the output of science and technologies leading the world. The research group divides the development of the national large research infrastructures into 6 major fields: particle physics, nuclear physics and nuclear energy; astronomy and space science; multi-disciplinary research platforms; life science and biotechnology; ecology and environment; high technologies and others. Based on the study of the international development trends in different fields, and the key technological frontiers in national technological development and the key scientific and technological problems related to the fast and sustained development of economy and society, the group tries to clarify the strategic vision, deployment, layout and phased goals of the development roadmap by 2050, analyzes the main directions for the development of different key fields in different stages and some key scientific and technological problems that may or must be broken through, and determines the development trend of each respective field. The roadmap describes the candidate projects of large research infrastructures the country should start and complete in the short-term period (around 2020) and the mid-term (around 2035) period for reference in further planning. Due to the specific characteristics of large research infrastructures, the projects to be constructed during the long-term period (around 2050) are hard to predict today. Therefore the focus is to analyze and forecast the development trends, and put forward the key scientific and technological problems that may or must be broken through. The group also puts forward some suggestions on policies related to systems, resources, human resources and others required by the realization of development goals.

1.1 Definition of National Large Research Infrastructures Large research infrastructures involve a very wide scope, whose definition is not only a scientific problem, but also a management one. By consulting various studies made in recent years, this report defines the national large research infrastructures as follows: The national large research infrastructures refer to the large facilities for scientific and technological research built with the investment made by the government and shared in their long operation by the community of science and technology in order to make important breakthroughs in science and technology, and solve the strategic, basic and forward-looking scientific and technological problems in economic and social development as well as the security of the country. These facilities constitute an integral part of the national infrastructures. The definition provides the most basic attributes of large research infrastructures: with scientific significance and national demand; an installation in long operation instead of a research institution, a facility not constructed for short-term experiments; a highly open and shared national facility rather than only meeting the demand of a given research institution. Such infrastructures include the overall facilities like accelerators, large astronomical telescopes, etc.; distributed facilities for large spatial scale observation research on continental structure, ecology, environment and others, and research facilities integrated by a large number of independent systems just like the protein research facilities and research facilities for assessing the safety of key engineering materials in service. The last kind of facilities must be well defined, and differentiated from the devices and equipment of a research institution. They are characterized by the importance of scientific goals and the demand of a considerable user community. Large user communities make it H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

Roadmap 2050

1

Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System

Roadmap 2050

impossible to provide each institution with a facility, which has to be managed and shared as a national facility. The above definition is basically the same as that in other countries, but of course, there are also some differences. In order to conform to the conditions of our country, this study does not include virtual facilities and humanistic facilities.

1.2 Position and Role of Large Research Infrastructures in the Development of the Country By extensively using novel scientific principles and advanced technologies, the large research infrastructures have greatly enhanced the ability of human beings to understand nature, and provided a basic condition to boost the development of scientific and technological frontiers and solve the key scientific and technological problems affecting the social and economic development. In addition, they also constitute an important part of the national innovative capability. They function as follows.

1. Make Important Breakthroughs in Scientific Frontiers to Contribute to the Development of Scientific Civilization of Human Beings During the interview of Ellis Rubinstein, Chief Editor of Science with President Jiang Zemin on May 17, 2000, President Jiang pointed out, “We take the construction of large scientific facilities as one of the important deployments to expedite the development of science and technology. Over the years we have completed some influential large scientific projects …The construction and operation of these facilities have enhanced the capabilities of China in scientific research and the exploration of unknown world.” These remarks focus on the ability of human beings to understand nature and also reflect the full awareness of the importance of large research infrastructures on the part of the Chinese government. The large scientific facilities are indispensible on the frontiers of scientific research in terms of the origin of nature, the origin and evolution of the universe, the origin and evolution of life and the unification of the material world. Many important breakthroughs in materials structures after the mid 20th century are almost all closely associated with large scientific facilities. Since the first cyclotron was built in 1939, 18 important scientific findings using large scientific facilities have been awarded Nobel Prize. Currently the ability of human beings to understand nature and use natural laws is facing a new breakthrough in terms of dark matter and dark energy, artificial life, substance control in deep strata. If China wants to achieve world-class scientific results, or even to win a Nobel Prize, it has to carefully select the main direction and establish necessary research conditions including relevant large research ·6·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

“As for the electron positron collider, first I want to tell you a story. European friend who is a scientist once asked why we were undertaking this project when our economy was still underdeveloped. I answered that we had our eyes on long-term development, not just immediate needs. It has always been, and will always be, necessary for China to develop its own high technology so that it can take its place in this field. If it were not for the atom bomb, the hydrogen bomb and the satellites we have launched since the 1960s, China would not have its present international standing as a great, influential country. These achievements demonstrate a nation’s abilities and are sign of its level of prosperity and development.” Excerpted from Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping Volume III P.232

Fig. 1.1 On October 24, 1988, Comrade Deng Xiaoping makes important remarks regarding the          

        Beijing Electron Positron Collider.

1 Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System

·7·

Roadmap 2050

infrastructures. China had made universally acknowledged contributions to the development of ancient civilization in science and technology in human history, however, it has lagged far behind since the modern times. Today China is making endeavours in national revitalization. Meanwhile, it should make its due contribution to the development of human civilization in science and technology, which matches the position of a big country in the world.

Roadmap 2050

2. Face the National Requirements and Solve the Relevant Key Scientific and Technological Problems in the Development of the Country Under the situation of increasingly furious competition in the world, China urgently needs to increase its basic research level and make important breakthroughs so as to provide new bases for the development of technologies and economy. Meanwhile, China is confronted by heavy pressures from many aspects like environment, resource, energy and people’s health and many key scientific and technological problems call for prompt solution. The abovementioned national demands involve the development of rich, efficient and clean energy, environment-friendly materials, processing and techniques, materials and apparatuses with high performances and special functions, advanced biomedical technologies, environmental protection and restoration technologies, resources, and others. The relevant scientific researches all are inseparable from the large research infrastructures such as large advanced light source, neutron source, extreme condition lab platform and the platform for protein research. The ecosystem research, global change and local response research, environment monitoring and research, ocean investigation and observation, space environment monitoring and research and some other researches need distribution observation and research facilities with large spatial scale. The development of technologies, as well as the development of economy and society in China will result in huge demand on large research infrastructures.

3. Promote and Stimulate the Development of Relevant National High Technologies and Industries Large research infrastructures are the integration of a lot of high technologies. In order to realize the original scientific and technological goals, it often requires that new technologies be developed or the existing technologies updated in constructing and using the facilities, thus they often become the sources of many high technologies and the cradles of high-tech industries. Some large research infrastructures, such as the large engineering technology test facilities, face the demand of developing national strategic hightech industry, and focus on the common technologies in high-tech industries and the breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies, which should directly give an impetus to the development of high-tech industries. The construction of research infrastructures is linked with relatively long industrial chains, so its development will definitely stimulate the development of relevant industries and promote the upgrading of industrial technologies. During the international cooperation regarding the construction of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider and the subsequent high energy physics experiments, Chinese scientific and technical personnel first realized the international networking of computer and accessed to Internet in 1988. The WWW network page was introduced in 1990 and spread all over the country, ·8·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

1.3 Development Trend of Large Research Infrastructures Large research infrastructures were born in the middle of the 20th century, then gained momentum and produced great influence on human civilization in science and technology and on economic and social development. Since the second half of the 20th century, some noteworthy trends have emerged in the development of large research infrastructures.

1. Sustainable Development of Large infrastructures Has an Increasingly Deep and Wide Influence on the Development of Society and Technology The development of large research infrastructures is always driven by the requirement of science, technology and social development. The general development trend is the expanding fields, the gradually diversified forms, the increasing number, the levels to be upgraded and the more profound and broad impacts. In the middle of the 20th century, driven by the great advancement of physics (the theories of quantum and relativity) and the requirement of national security in the context of World War II, large particle accelerators and astronomical observation facilities and nuclear test facilities came into being. In the second half of the 20th century, with the increasingly mature technologies for large accelerators, there emerged some accelerator-based multi-disciplinary experimental facilities like synchrotron radiation light source, and spallation neutron source, which greatly quickened the development of science and technology. Meanwhile, in order to solve the large scientific problems involving large spatial scale like ecological environment, distributed observation research facilities appeared. At the turn of the century, the advancement of science and technology and the solution to key scientific and technological problems in social development have raised higher demand on the performances of these facilities, an even bigger size of the distributed observation facilities, more integrated technologies and higher technological levels. Meanwhile, profound changes have taken place in many traditional studies on the so-called “little 1 Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System

·9·

Roadmap 2050

thus greatly promoting the development of networking and technologies in China. This typically demonstrates the great role played by large scientific facilities in boosting the development of high technologies in China. In addition, large research infrastructures also play a unique role in cultivating and agglomerating high-level and compound talents, promoting international cooperation on science and technology, increasing competitiveness in science and technology in the world, heightening national scientific spirit and strengthening national confidence.

Roadmap 2050

science”, as reflected in the fact that the separate and isolated research on a given object is becoming holistic, systematic and integrated. Hence the research facilities integrated by a number of independent systems like the protein research facility. The development mentioned above has had an increasingly wide and deep impact on the development of science, technology and society.

2. Large-scale Scientific Bases Supported by Large Scientific Facilities Constitute an Important Innovative Capability of the Country Large research infrastructures, especially the multi-disciplinary experimental facilities have had impacts on many scientific and technological fields. They have been used by many research institutions and users. As a result, they have promoted the integration of research support capabilities and the intersection of different disciplines. Therefore, since the second half of the 20th century, many large comprehensive scientific research centers supported by large scientific facilities or large scientific facility groups have been established in the world. The structures of these centers are different. Some are independent institutions, like several large national labs under the American Department of Energy, RIKEN and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization-KEK in Japan, Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) in Germany, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Britain and Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland. Some are scientific centers formed in the successive building of large scientific facilities of different research institutions that bring about the gathering of other research institutions, such as the science parks in Grenoble, France and Harima, Japan. These centers have constituted an important force for the innovative capability and international competitiveness of developed countries. Their innovative capability is embodied in many ways, the most prominent one is the promotion of intersection between different disciplines, the development of emerging and frontier disciplines as well as the breakthroughs in important new technologies. For instance, as soon as the United States put forth a nanotechnology plan, the Department of Energy immediately set up 5 nanotechnology centers with different features at several major scientific facility bases. Recently two bio-energy centers were set up at these bases for the development of bio-energy. The newest trend is that some countries deploy the construction of such scientific centers in a planned way in their planning for the development of large science facilities, such as Daresbury and Harwell Science and Innovation Campuses, UK which have been specified in “Research Councils UK Large Facilities Roadmap ” [1]. China is building a science facility for protein research close to the newly completed Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF). With the construction of other research facilities, a large science campus will take shape around SSRF. Construction of the proposed Beijing Comprehensive Science · 10 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

3. Construction and Use of Large Research Infrastructures Are More Internationalized Since the birth of large research infrastructures, the development trend has presented their openness and internationalization. In the course of later development, this trend has become even obvious for two reasons. First, due to the great scientific goals, the technologies involved in building large research infrastructures are so complicated, the scales become so large and the resources required are so huge that one country alone cannot afford them. Under such circumstances, all countries must join hands by contributing whatever resources they have to tackle these problems. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France are just the case in point. The other important reason for the trend is the inherent requirement of science development. As many scientific issues call for an overall global research, it requires that relevant large research facilities be included in an overall framework of construction and research. Such cooperation is often realized through a large international scientific programme. Some countries in the world actively participate in the international cooperation on large research facilities both from the insight of the abovementioned development requirement and the need to enhance their national innovative capabilities through international cooperation. The UK’s Large Facilities Roadmap 2005 pointed out [3], “Excellent science can only be delivered when working with, and benchmarking against, the best scientists in the world. In many circumstances, the UK’s interests will be well served by participating in a facility overseas, for example through international subscriptions or bilateral arrangements with the host country.” The international cooperation in terms of construction and use of the large research infrastructures in China is expanding. China is an important participant of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). The Dabieshan Ultrahigh-pressure Metamorphic Rock Deep Drilling Project that has been accomplished with the deepest earth shell tectonic movement returning to earth surface is a unique and the biggest ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rock deep drilling project in the world, which puts China in an important position in ICDP. The Beijing Electron Positron Collider has become a main facility to carry out international cooperation on τ-charm physics. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak in Hefei, the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Accelerator, the Shanghai Shenguang Facility and some others have become the large facilities for international science community to carry out 1 Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System

· 11 ·

Roadmap 2050

Center, supported by science facilities like a large advanced light source, an extreme condition experimental facility and a platform for comprehensive research on imaging is being planned. The construction of such kind of large scientific bases will definitely have positive impact on the development of China’s science and technology.

Roadmap 2050

relevant research. In addition, China has also participated in the construction and development of some facilities overseas and used them to carry out scientific research. These international cooperations have increased the position of China in international science community and promoted the development of relevant science and technology.

4. All Countries Are Making Long-term Development Plans, Which Will Have Far-reaching Influence on the Situation of International Competition in Science and Technology At present, there is an unprecedented fierce competition in science and technology in the world. All countries take the development of large research infrastructures as an important measure to enhance their national innovative capability and their competitiveness in the world. For a long period of time, the developed countries have made large and steady investments (the investments in whole life cycle) in developing large research infrastructures. According to incomplete statistics[4], the investment made by the United States in large basic research facilities (excluding space and some other fields) in recent years accounts for 1.9% of its investment in R&D, the figure is 3.6% in Germany, and 2.3% in UK. Thanks to the upgraded scientific goals, the increasing demand of resources and the vigorous requirement of development, it becomes increasingly necessary to make long-term planning. The United States, Britain, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Japan, Australia and the European Union have already had quite a number of large research infrastructures, but in recent years, they have further put out their ambitious long-term development plans, such as the American Department of Energy’s “Science Facilities: Outlook for Future 20 Years”[4], UK’s “Strategy Roadmap of Large Scientific Facilities” and EU’s “Roadmap of European Research Infrastructures”. These plans are characterized by putting emphasis on international competitiveness in science and technology, giving prominence to science frontiers, and aiming at key scientific and technological problems related to ecological environment, resources, energies and health of people in national, continental, and even global view. The projects proposed have great scientific goals, prominent innovations and high technological levels. The implementation of these plans must have important impact on the situation of international competition in science and technology. Table 1.1 describes the projects specified in the EU roadmap planning and the conditions of the startups of the projects[2], which show the above characteristics to some extent. The time scale of planning is 10–20 years, including facilities jointly constructed by all countries of EC, but the facilities independently constructed by each country are excluded.

· 12 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

The projects specified in the EU roadmap planning and the startup of the projects (Currency unit: in 100 million Euros) Under construction

Field

Number of Estimated projects cost

Number of projects

Budget

Startup Number of projects

Budget

Social and humanity sciences

5

2.1

4

2.0

Environmental science

10

21.5

2

1.0

Energy

4

23.8

Biomedical and life sciences

10

22.0

3

7.9

Materials science (Light source, neutron source, etc.)

8

60.7

3

14.5

1

14.0

Astronomy, nuclear physics and particle physics

6

41.8

2

13.8

Computing and data processing

1

3.0

1

3.0

Total

44

175

11

27.9

1

6

5

33.3

The development of society and science in China happens to be in a critical period, during which there will be a large and pressing demand of large research infrastructures. So it is just the time for us to make a long-term development plan.

1.4 The Current Situation and Tasks of Large Research Infrastructures in China The national large research infrastructures have witnessed the following periods in their development: the infancy beginning from the 1950’s and 1960’s with their construction focused on the national strategic demand (mainly the national security) ; growth period (in the 1970’s and 1980’s) represented by the Beijing Electron Positron Collider project for which Deng Xiaoping laid the foundation and the development period after the 1990’s. When the Eleventh Five-Year Plan is excluded, the total investment amounts to RMB 5.3 billion, with 34 facilities constructed, involving many fields like particle physics, astronomy, time standard release, remote sensing, particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, synchronization radiation, geology, ocean, ecology, 1 Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System

· 13 ·

Roadmap 2050

Table 1.1

Roadmap 2050

biological resources, energies and national security. These facilities have greatly enhanced the innovative capabilities and China’s competitiveness in relevant fields in the world. The Beijing Electron Positron Collider, the Tokamak Facility, the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Accelerator and the Chinese Continent Scientific Drilling Project have achieved a series of scientific results which have great influence in the world, thus making possible for China to have entered the frontiers of relevant fields in the world. The synchronization radiation light source has provided an important platform for frontier research in many fields, and some first-class results like the structural determination of spinach light-harvesting membrane protein complex and the combustion intermediates of isomer structure have been achieved. The National Time Service Center has ensured the successful completion of the key national tasks like manned space flight and Chang’e Project as regards time release. The Crustal Movement Observation Network of China and the China Remote Sensing Satellite Ground Station have provided important technical support for national security, disaster monitoring, resource investigation, ecological investigation and other fields. The development of these facilities has also expedited the development and use of many new high technologies like superconducting technology, heavy ion cancer therapy, as well as the cultivation of qualified technological and management teams. Many projects constructed during the Tenth Five-Year Plan period have been upgraded to a great extent in terms of scientific goals, technological innovation, technical level or construction level compared with those constructed before. They have aroused close concern and high attention from the international community of science and technology. EAST built recently is the first experimental advanced superconducting tokamak in the world, which is praised by foreign colleagues as “an important millstone in developing fusion energy in the world”. LAMOST has become a telescope with the highest acquisition rate of spectrum observation in the world, whose scientific goals and technological innovation have been highly spoken of by people of the same trade. The newly completed SSRF and the upgraded Beijing Electron Positron Collider known as BEPCII have received high appraisal by the international community of accelerators as regards the construction level and speed. Over the years, China has intensified the investment in large research infrastructures as reflected in providing over 6 billion Chinese yuan for 12 large facilities in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan such as the Chinese Spallation Neutron Source, etc., thus China has ushered in a new period of fast development for large research infrastructures. Despite the above-mentioned achievements, the status quo of the development of large research infrastructures in China is still a far cry from the development of these kinds of infrastructures in the world and the requirement from the establishment of a national innovation system in the following respects: insufficient original innovative scientific goals and achievements, low technical level and relatively weak competitiveness; a large gap in terms of the · 14 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

1 Large Research Infrastructures and National Innovation System

· 15 ·

Roadmap 2050

overall scale and quantity, inappropriate deployment and structures of various disciplines or even blank in some strategic areas. All these have become the bottleneck restraining the innovation capability from being created and many key sciences and technologies required by the country from being solved. In addition, the gap also finds an expression in the following respects: lack of the formation of complete sets of facilities, not much room for upgrade following the construction, not fully open and appropriately shared, thereby affecting the science output and its benefit; insufficient reservation of technologies and qualified science and technology teams and a weak foundation for long and sustainable development. To narrow these gaps as soon as possible is a great challenge posing to our country in the development of large research infrastructures. Besides the short history in developing the national large research infrastructures and the factors including the Chinese economic strength and the level of scientific and technological development, there are a lot of reasons for the above-mentioned gaps to arise, one of them is the lack of high-level and long-term development planning. With important missions, large investment and long construction period, many large research infrastructures involve a lot of aspects and have farreaching influence. Therefore it is especially important to study the development strategy for the national large research infrastructures in depth and make roadmaps for a considerably long period of time in the future. We need to grasp the direction of the development of science and technologies in the world, solve the challenges facing national economic and social development, carefully select the key scientific and technological problems required to address these challenges, and aim at the science and technology frontiers in the world so as to make a forward-looking overall planning and deployment. It is hoped that this report can provide readers with some useful information.

Roadmap 2050

2

Macro Thought on Development of China’s Large Research Infrastructures in the Next 50 Years

2.1 Guideline for Making Roadmap The development roadmap of large research infrastructures in China in the next 50 years, including the determination of strategy and planning of the development, should be made on the basis of the following principles: t
Conform to the macro goal of China to basically realize modernization in the middle of the 21st century and reach the level of mediumdeveloped countries; embody the national policy of sustainable economic and social development; and to be compatible with the overall planning of national scientific and technological development and the planning of social development. t
Reflect that the requirements of all scientific and technological fields on the research support capability are commensurate with their development roadmap. t
Grasp the direction of development in science and technology in the world and ascertain the long-term requirements of the economic and social development of the country; predict the potential possibilities offered by new principles and new technologies; and make forwardlooking deployment. t
The overall development scale matches the level of national economic development and the government capability to make investment.

H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

In order to carry out the national policy of revitalizing the country with science and technology, China is increasing its investment in science and technology, with the construction of scientific and technological conditions as the key point for investment. The large research infrastructures are one of the most important components of these conditions and should account for a corresponding proportion of the investment in science and technology. Europe and the United States are in a steady stage in terms of the development of science & technology and large research infrastructures. The relative investment made by our country in large research infrastructures should not be less than theirs (See Chapter 1, 3 (4)). Therefore it is proposed that the investment made by the government in large research infrastructures be no less than 2.5% of the total investment for R & D.

2.2 Development Goal [6,7] 1. Short-term Development Goals (Around 2020) During the next two five-year plans, efforts should be made to greatly narrow the gap between our country and the world in terms of the advanced scientific and technological level, fill the blanks of the fields urgently required by the scientific and technological development, the economic and social development, and at the same time, further enhance the research support capability of the existing fields; the overall development level of the infrastructures should be able to support the leading research work in the world and strategic high-tech development in key fields like life sciences, materials science, environmental science and energy science; to support Chinese scientists in carrying out featured research on some hot points of scientific research frontiers in order to achieve original results with great scientific significance; and to preliminarily form several large-scale scientific research bases backed by these support capabilities. Meanwhile, some preliminary studies are to be completed on the infrastructures that may be deployed in the medium-term so as to reserve technologies and teams for the development in the future. Further Description of the Short-term Goals From the disciplinary layout of the existing facilities in China, the infrastructures for large-spatial-scale research on continents, oceans, atmospheric ecological environment and spatial environments are still weak, and the social development in our country is confronted by increasing pressure from environment. So it is necessary to enhance these research layouts as 2 Macro Thought on Development of China’s Large Research Infrastructures in the Next 50 Years · 17 ·

Roadmap 2050

Suggestions on the Investment to be Made in Large Research Infrastructures:

Roadmap 2050

soon as possible. In energy research, China has had its advanced research infrastructures in fusion research, but the research support capability needs to be improved; meanwhile, the research on other strategic energy technologies like accelerator driven sub-critical system (ADS) needs long-term phased deployment from now on. Regarding the infrastructures supporting multi-disciplinary research, there is a large gap between the current level in China and the advanced level in the world. Especially the development of many subjects encounters bottleneck. The construction of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) is an important step forward to narrow the gap; high magnetic field facilities are to be completed; the construction of spallation neutron source is to be initiated. All these will further narrow the gap in this field. The construction of these facilities and the follow-up construction should be completed as soon as possible to fully develop the construction benefit. Meanwhile, the development of such facilities is very fast in the world, which will have significant impact on the development of many subjects. China should further undertake the development of such facilities before 2020, otherwise the gap will widen. China has built some scientific facilities in the field of particle physics, nuclear physics and astronomical observation and made striking scientific achievements. At present, human understanding of the structures of micro and macro matters happens to be in a period during which there will be a possible important breakthrough. As a big country, China should make its due contribution to the development of scientific civilization. However, limited by the national strength, China cannot afford to make the same level of investment as the developed countries in the researches on scientific frontier problems in the near future. But it should select appropriate breakthrough points, make use of its specific advantages to construct featured facilities and carry out featured researches and make efforts to strive for breakthroughs in some points. It is necessary to initiate the construction of comprehensive research bases backed by large scientific facilities as soon as possible, which is important for the enhancement of China’s innovation capability and international competitiveness. Two or three comprehensive scientific bases should be deployed in combination with the arrangement of infrastructures to be constructed up to 2020, and the construction of the bases be started up as soon as possible in order for them to take shape around 2020.

2. Mid-term Development Goals (Around 2035) Based on the realization of short-term development goals, and with the efforts in another 15 years, the national large research infrastructures should realize the following development goals: the overall development of infrastructures in terms of quantity, field coverage, technological level, scientific goal, technological innovation and scientific and technological output reaches an international advanced level and some fields are in leading positions in the world; innovative results with significant influence on the development · 18 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Further Description of Mid-term Development Goals Except few fields, the overall development of national large research infrastructures is still in the stage of filling blanks and narrowing gaps around 2020. In another 15 years, the overall development is to reach an international advanced level with more fields in leading positions in the world. Around 2035, the performances of many experimental facilities like advanced light sources, spallation neutron source, extreme conditions as well as experimental technologies are to reach a world-class level, and the quantity, geographical distribution and field coverage should meet the wide requirements from scientific and technological development. Due to the enhancement of economic strength of the country, special research facilities aiming at scientific frontier problems should be developed in a better way. The above-mentioned development and the increase of scientific research level will definitely lead to quite a number of innovative results with significant influence in the world. The scale of various forms of research facilities serving the country’s social and economic development will be further increased, with their technologies more integrated and advanced, and more pronounced contributions to solving key scientific and technological problems in the sustainable economic and social development. Around 2035, the number of large-scale scientific bases and high-tech parks supported by large scientific facilities should be increased and also developed in a more mature way, and what’s more, they should make even bigger contributions to the development of science and technology as well as that of new and high technologies and their corresponding industries in China.

3. Long-term Development Goals (in the Next 40 – 50 Years) By the middle of the 21st century, China’s large research infrastructures should develop to the level of all-round enhancement: the overall development of infrastructures in terms of quantity, field coverage, technological level, scientific goal, technological innovation and scientific & technological output will stand at the forefront with some fields even in leading positions in the world; they will have great influence over the development of many fields on scientific frontiers in the world; they will play an outstanding role in solving relevant significant technological problems related to environment, energy, resource and health in the sustainable economic and social development; supported by these infrastructures, several large-scale scientific research bases and high-tech parks take shape with some scientific and technological output standing at the forefront in the world. 2 Macro Thought on Development of China’s Large Research Infrastructures in the Next 50 Years · 19 ·

Roadmap 2050

of some disciplines are obtained on certain scientific frontiers; to play an important role in solving relevant scientific and technological problems related to environment, energy, resource and health in the sustainable economic and social development; several large-scale scientific research bases and hightech parks supported by these infrastructures constitute one of the important components of the national innovation system.

Roadmap 2050

2.3 Guideline for Development In order to realize the above-mentioned goals, the guideline for developing large scientific facilities in China should be as follows: make a long-term planning and proceed with it in stages and with appropriate scale; make a rational arrangement, plan in a comprehensive way and strengthen the construction of large scientific bases and high-tech parks supported by facilities to fully develop the benefit of the completed facilities; pay equal attention to the follow-up development of existing facilities and the construction of new facilities; attach importance to the reserve of technologies and the building of teams for sustainable development in the future; and ensure the construction level of the facilities and the realization of scientific goals by making a scientific and rational investment, establishing a scientific management and operation mechanism and strengthening the openness and sharing and international cooperation. On Promotion of Long-term Planning in Stages In the section “Guiding Principle for Making Roadmap”, we made the suggestion “grasp the direction of development in science and technology in the world and the long-term requirement of economic and social development of the country, forecast the future possibilities brought by the development of new principles and new technologies and make forward-looking deployment”. But in the implementation, we must do it in the order of importance and urgency according to the investment capability; and duly arrange it in accordance with the urgency of different requirements and the maturity of technologies. “Make a long-term planning and promote with it in stages” also includes another implication. Some key scientific and technological problems such as the development related to energy technologies call for a considerably long timescale, so we should grasp long-term goals, make long-term planning, and proceed with the construction of large scientific facilities in stages. On Layout In the past, the construction of large research infrastructures in China was basically considered and arranged on case by case basis, which reflects the historical features in the process of development. Today the national large research infrastructures have entered a stage of high-speed development, therefore to make a rational arrangement and plan in a comprehensive way have become an important issue. Rational arrangement includes the field arrangement, the geographical arrangement relevant to users’ distribution and the unified and coordinated arrangement of facilities related to the development of large scientific bases. All these problems should merit attention in the planning and construction arrangement. On the Follow-up Development of Existing Infrastructures The follow-up development of existing facilities includes continuous · 20 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

On Sustainable Development Capability In order to ensure the long-term, sustainable and healthy development of large scientific facilities, great importance must be attached to the reserve of technologies and the building of teams. Many large scientific facilities have high requirements on technologies, some even need to develop brand-new technologies, and others want to enhance the existing technologies to a new level. If China wants to make innovations in the development of large scientific facilities (and thus bring about scientific innovations) rather than imitation, it must lay great emphasis on the development and reserve of technologies rather than focus on the projects to be constructed. It is the same case with the building of teams.

2 Macro Thought on Development of China’s Large Research Infrastructures in the Next 50 Years · 21 ·

Roadmap 2050

improvement, perfection and significant upgrade to greatly enhance the support capability after they are completed. The continuous improvement and perfection mainly involve the routine input in the completed facilities, which is insufficient at present in China. When needs arise, they can be easily improved, whereas significant upgrade involves the planning and arrangement of a given project by the country. International experience shows that it is a scientific and rational arrangement to control the construction of large scientific facilities within a rational scale and appropriate performances and duly upgrade them, expand the scale and improve their performances to increase their support capabilities for research. This should be seriously considered in China’s planning for large scientific facilities and the construction plan of each project so as to leave margins for development, prepare technological conditions and facilitate the long-term planning and arrangement by the country.

Roadmap 2050

3

Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

3.1 Particle Physics Particle physics is a frontier subject which studies the smallest constituents of matter and the laws governing their interactions. It plays an important role in studying the origin and evolution of the universe and the formation and evolution of the celestial bodies. The Standard Model of particle physics has successfully described various phenomena appearing in particle physics experiments and correctly classified all known particles. However, the Standard Model is not the ultimate theory of particle physics and there are a lot of important questions to be answered by new physics theories beyond the Standard Model: t
Higgs is the most important particle in the Standard Model, and it is also the origin of the mass of particle. However, it has not been discovered by far. t
There are too many parameters in the Standard Model to be explained. For instance, why are there just three generations of quarks and leptons? Why are they so different in mass? Why does quark mixing angle occur? t
The physical mechanism of the quark confinement. t
The origin of the CP violation. The search for Higgs particle and exploration of new particles beyond the Standard Model and new physics phenomena have become the frontiers in current international particle physics experiments. In recent years, important breakthroughs have been made in neutrino physics experiment with the discovery of neutrino with mass and the existence of oscillation among different neutrinos known as neutrino mixing. The experiment for precise measurement of parameters of neutrino mixture has become one of the hotspots in the international community of particle physics. Particle physics plays an important role in the study of the origin and H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

1. International Frontier of Particle Physics Experiment The international frontiers of particle physics experiments in the new century include two main fields: accelerator-based physics experiments and non-accelerator-based physics experiments. (1) Accelerated-based Particle Physics Experiments Accelerator-based particle physics experiments mainly include two research frontiers: high energy research frontier and high-precision research frontier. The goal of high energy research frontier is to search for Higgs particle and new particles beyond the Standard Model and explore new physics phenomena. High energy frontier study uses accelerators with the highest energy in the world, for instance, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) realizes proton-proton collision with the center-of-mass energy of 14TeV and it is predicted that the data taking will begin in 2009. Its scientific goal is to search for Higgs. If it cannot be found at the energy scalar of 1TeV, new physics phenomena will appear. Meanwhile, the international community of high energy physics is discussing about the next generation of high energy accelerator, which is predicted to be the large electron positron linear collider with the center-of-mass energy of 0.5–3 TeV. Its 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 23 ·

Roadmap 2050

evolution of the universe and the formation and evolution of the celestial bodies. The intersection and mutual promotion of studies on micro particle physics and macro astrophysics and cosmology form a new interdiscipline — particle astrophysics, another development frontier of physics. The latest astronomy observations show that dark matter accounts for about 23% of the total matters in the whole universe and dark energy accounts for about 73%. But particle physics knows nothing about their natures. In other words, particle physics can just explain about 4% of the matters in the universe. The discovery and physical explanation of dark matters and dark energies are both a toughest challenge and a significant development opportunity facing particle physics in the 21st century. Particle physics is on the eve of another historic breakthrough. High energy accelerator and particle physics experiments have also greatly boosted the development of high technologies, including high performance computing, WWW webpage, grid computing, super-conducting technology, etc. Some large research platforms like synchrotron radiation, spallation neutron source and free electron laser based on advanced accelerator technologies have become a powerful tool for frontier research on multidiscipline. Particle physics experiments have greatly spurred the development of accelerator technologies which are widely used in many fields and become a high-tech and emerging industry with strategic significance. The synchrotron radiation facilities and spallation neutron source developing together with accelerator technologies have provided the latest research means for many subjects and brought about profound changes in them.

Roadmap 2050

scientific goal is to precisely measure the properties of Higgs, deeply study the CP violation mechanism of electroweak interaction, search for new particles, etc. These very large scientific facilities must be constructed and operated through international cooperation. China should plan carefully in this regard and actively participate in the significant international cooperation. The goal of high-precision research frontier is to construct high intensity accelerators (called “factory” generating certain particles) and precise detectors in the energy region lower than that of high energy research frontier, obtain data through precise measurement with high statistics, precisely test the Standard Model and reveal new phenomena beyond the Standard Model. This kind of facility is cheaper than that of the former, but it has equally important scientific significance. So it is one of the hotspots in international particle physics experiments today. In three energy regions suitable for such “factory” with important physics significance, the United States and Japan have constructed B meson factories of PEPII and KEKB with the energy of 10 GeV respectively, the Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing has built the Electron Positron Collider (BEPCII) with the energy of 2–4.5 GeV and Italy built a F meson factory with the energy of 1 GeV. All these facilities have been put in operation. KEKB and PEPII have basically accomplished their scientific goals with a lot of important physics results achieved, which are very important for testing the Standard Model. Now KEK is considering to increase the luminosity of KEKB by two orders of magnitude. This project is known as SuperKEKB. The construction of BEPCII was completed in July 2008 and the design goal was met in May 2009, thereby laying a foundation for China to maintain and develop the leading position in international frontier study of high-precise τ-charm physics.

Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC) The proposal of Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC) project was formally approved on April 25, 1983. In October 1984, Mr. Deng Xiaoping personally laid a foundation for the project. In connection with the then dispute of whether the decision made is ahead of the times, he told the people around him, “I believe it is not wrong.” Four years later, in the early morning of October 16, 1988, the first collision of electrons and positrons was successfully realized at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider. Then the People’s Daily published a commentary, saying that this was another significant breakthrough in high-tech field following the successful explosion of the atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb as well as the launching of the satellites. The completion and operation of this project has helped China’s high energy accelerator technology to leap over the 1950s, the 1960s and the 1970s, and directly reach the international advanced level of the 1980s. The Institute of High Energy Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was responsible for the construction of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider with

· 24 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 25 ·

Roadmap 2050

a total investment of 240 million Chinese yuan. The total construction area of the project reaches 57,500 square meters. The project consists of a 202 m long linear accelerator, a transportation line, a round accelerator (or storage ring) with 240 m in circumference, a 6 m high and 500 T spectrometer (known as Beijing Spectrometer), synchrotron radiation experiment facilities surrounding the storage ring and others. The electrons and positrons are accelerated to nearly the velocity of light in high vacuum pipes, and collide at the interaction point. The Beijing Spectrometer records the characteristics of the particles generated from collision. Through the processing and analysis of these data, scientists will further understand the nature of the particles and reveal the mystery of the micro world. In 1979, John Adams, Director-General of European Organization for Nuclear Research who visited China, asked Deng Xiaoping, “Why are you undertaking the project of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider when your economy is still undeveloped?” Deng Xiaoping answered without any hesitation, “We have our eyes on long-term development, not just immediate needs.” It is precisely because of the great foresight of Zhou En’lai, Deng Xiaoping and other state leaders and their awareness of the importance of basic sciences for the national economic construction that the Beijing Electron Positron Collider came into being. After the BEPC was put into operation in October 1990, we kept tracking the international frontier technologies, broke through many key technological difficulties and maintained the stable and efficient operation of the BEPC for 17 years. The main parameters such as luminosity and so on in the 2 – 2.5 GeV center-of-mass energy region are in a leading position in the world, thus making it possible for China’s high energy physics to have made breakthrough progress, as reflected in the important results of the precise measurement of the lepton mass, the R value measurement, and the discovery of new resonances. Now, China’s high energy physics stands at the forefront in the field of            Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has become one of the eight research centers for high energy physics in the world. During the past 17 years, BEPC has become a high-level scientific research platform mainly for high energy physics and also for the research on synchrotron radiation and multi-disciplines. Each year, over 300 experiments are done by scientists from over 100 scientific institutions and universities with a number of high-level scientific results achieved. The Beijing Electron Positron Collider is used for two purposes. As a synchrotron radiation facility, it was the only synchrotron radiation source that could offer wideband from hard X-ray to vacuum ultraviolet in China at that time and provided an advanced experiment platform for applications and researches on many subjects like condensed matter physics, materials science, biomedicines, soft X-ray science, micro-electronics and micro-mechanical technology. The construction of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider has strongly boosted the development of high technologies in relevant fields in China, like high frequency, micro wave, precision machinery, nuclear detection technology, fast electronics, automatic control, computer and internet technology, nuclear imaging and nuclear medicine. The international cooperation in high energy physics has helped the Institute of High Energy Physics to become the first node of China in international internet in the mid-1980s and made a historic contribution to the development of China’s IT technology.

Roadmap 2050 Fig.3.1 A bird’s eye view of BEPC

The long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments carried out at accelerators are also an active research field. Their common goals are to measure the mixed parameters of neutrinos and to observe directly the inter-conversion among three kinds of neutrinos. The observation distances of current experiments are 300 and 800 kilometers. (2) Non-accelerator Physics Experiments The non-accelerator physics experiments include neutrino experiments, astrophysics experiments in space, cosmic ray observation, deep underground experiments, etc. In recent years, due to the fast increase of construction cost and period of super large accelerators, the number of accelerator-based particle physics experiments is decreasing. With the deepening of the study on matter structure, many physics problems can only be studied in non-accelerator physics experiments in the foreseeable future. Therefore, non-accelerator physics experiments are developing very fast and have attracted more and more physicists. The non-accelerator physics experiments do not need the construction of large accelerators, but most experiments need large detectors in order to find out rare events. All these detectors are large scientific projects which call for huge investment. The space science experiments involve spatial load and space launch, they need a large investment too. Neutrino plays a key role in the most micro particle physics world and the most macro origin and evolution of the universe. The neutrino experiments include reactor neutrino experiments and neutrino detection experiments in · 26 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2. Development Strategy of China’s Particle Physics Experiment Research In the 21st century, China’s particle physics should be focused on the study of the development of the world particle physics frontier research and the making of the development strategy for particle physics experimental research in China according to the actual conditions by grasping the significant historic opportunities facing particle physics field today so as to achieve significant innovative scientific results. We should make the best use of BEPCII to carry out extensive international cooperation on BESIII experiment, for instance, the precise measurements of charm physics. We should fully develop the advantages of unique geography and resources in China and carry out international cooperations in the field of non-accelerator physics experiments and at the same time, select some non-accelerator physics experiments like particle astrophysics experiment, cosmic ray observation and neutrino physics experiment. We should strengthen international cooperation, reinforce planning and organization, increase input and make the international cooperation on LHC experiments a success and actively arrange the international cooperation on the International Linear Collider. The high energy physics research bases should also actively face the demand from the development of science and technologies, and offer advanced methods and large platforms to other subjects like synchrotron radiation facilities, spallation neutron source and free electron laser. (1) BEPCII The physics window for the future development of BEPC will be the frontier physics research on the high-precision measurements in the charm energy region, i.e., the measurements with high-statistics and small systematic errors, precision testing of the Standard Model, discovery of rare decay and 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 27 ·

Roadmap 2050

deep earth and deep sea. Reactor neutrino experiments detect the flux of the neutrino generated by reactor of nuclear power station as a function of the distance. In order to screen the cosmic ray particles, most of the experiments which detect the atmospheric neutrino, the solar neutrino and the astrophysics neutrino are constructed underground or in deep seas. The scale of cosmic ray observation experiment is expanding, involving many fields like high energy cosmic rays, γ astronomy, neutrino astronomy and so on, the study of the origin of cosmic rays, the acceleration mechanism and components and the knee region, etc. These experiments use various research facilities, like ground shower array and Cherenkov telescope. The particle astrophysics experiments in space have become a new hotspot at the cross frontier of particle physics and cosmology and astrophysics. The detectors carried by satellites or installed in space stations are used to search for dark matter particles, antimatter, X-ray source and new phenomena of high energy astrophysics and to study γ burst.

Roadmap 2050

Roadmap 2050

exploration of new physics phenomena beyond the Standard Model. BEPC has unique advantages in physics research in this energy region: operating on resonances of J/Ψ and Ψ', with large cross section and small backgrounds. So it cannot be substituted by B factories. The research is not only very important for the development of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), including perturbative QCD, nonpurterbative QCD and its transmission area, but is also able to explore new physics phenomena. The significant original innovative results to be hopefully obtained at BEPCII in international high energy physics frontier research include: search for new particles (glueball, multiple quark state and quark-gluon hybrids); precise measurements of J/Ψ, Ψ' and Ψ'' decays; precise measurements of CKM matrix elements; study on the light hadron spectrum and excited baryons; D meson physics; measurement of fD and fDs; test of VDM, NRQCD and PQCD; precise measurements of R value and study of τ lepton physics. Its scientific lifetime is expected to be about 10 years. We expect that after the operation of BEPCII/BESIII for 3–5 years and the basic physics results are clear, we will determine the development strategy for domestic acceleratorbased particle physics experiment bases according to the latest international development trend of high energy physics.

Upgrade of Beijing Electron Positron Collider (known as BEPCII) The interesting results achieved by China in the study of -charm physics produced the hotspot of international high energy physics research. In order to keep its international leading position in the study of -charm physics for a long period in the future, China duly put the upgrading of BEPC (known as BEPCII) on the agenda. Facing fierce international competition, in order to ensure that China prevails over the competitors, through full international and domestic argumentations, it was finally decided that BEPCII undertook the upgrading by adopting a double-ring scheme. This project needs less investment and can increase the luminosity by two orders of magnitude in a short period of time. And the spectrometer upgraded at the same time will greatly improve its resolution so that the systematic errors can be reduced and the high event rate of accelerator matched. In March 2003, the National Development and Reform Commission formally approved the BEPCII project with a total budget of 640 million Chinese yuan. In January 2004, the BEPCII project started. Thanks to the efforts made in 5 years, BEPCII realized the successful electron and positron collision on July 19, 2008 during the joint commissioning of the accelerator and Beijing Spectrometer with the observation of physics events generated by electron and positron collision. As a result of the busy commissioning in 10 months, BEPCII finally achieved the designed specification in the middle of May, 2009. This symbolizes that BEPCII has been successfully completed on schedule, with high quality and within budget, thereby becoming a model for building large scientific facilities in China. The successful construction of BEPCII has helped China’s accelerators and detector technologies to realize another leap and laid a foundation for China to continue to keep and develop its leading position in charm physics research.

· 28 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Roadmap 2050

Fig. 3.2 The double-ring after the completion of the upgraded BEPC

(2) Neutrino Physics Experiments China faces great opportunities in the field of neutrino physics experimental research. With unique conditions of Daya Bay, the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment under construction will ensure that the measurement precision of sin 2 2θ 13 reaches 0.01, much better than the anticipated 0.03 of its international competitors. The experimental result will determine the direction of international neutrino physics experiments in the future and have great significance in solving the problems of physics frontiers like antimatter. An important international cooperation under the leadership of China has been formed. It is predicted that the above experimental goal will be achieved around 2013 and then we will deeply study the future development plan of neutrino experiment in Daya Bay area such as study of the possibilities of precise measurement of sin22θ12 according to the development trend of international neutrino physics experimental research. Another direction of the future neutrino physics experiments is the superlong baseline neutrino oscillation experiment: If the measured sin 22θ13 is not too small, we can consider to use Japan’s J-PARC to do super-long baseline (over 2,000 kilometers) neutrino oscillation experiment in China. Its scientific goal is to study the matter effect when neutrino penetrates the earth, measure the CP phase of neutrino oscillation and mass difference of ν3 and ν2, solving the important physics questions that cannot be answered by the existing 300 and 800-kilometer baseline neutrino oscillation experiments in the world. (3) Particle Astrophysics Experiments Particle astrophysics is the cross-frontier of research on particle 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 29 ·

Roadmap 2050

physics, astrophysics and cosmology, which faces great opportunities and is the hotspot of the current international particle physics experiments. The particle astrophysics experiments cover a wide range, and by combining the technologies of space science and the features of geography & resources in China, the experiment projects should be carefully planned. Search for dark matter is a hotspot of the current international particle physics research and space science experiments are one of the main methods to discover dark matter particles in fierce competition. Measurements of the energy spectra of high energy photon, electron and positron and antiproton with the detectors on satellite or space station may discover evidence of the existence of dark matter. Chinese physicists have accumulated rich experience from the international cooperation in space science experiment on dark matter detection. We should actively plan and arrange dark matter detection experiments on our satellites and in space labs with China as the leader. we should pay more attention to the latest development of international dark matter research, strengthen dark matter detection physics research, support relevant design and R&D of detectors and promote relevant international cooperation in order to send to space China’s first dark matter detector before 2020. After that, the next generation of detectors should be designed and the sensitivity of dark matter detection enhanced. If evidence of the existence of dark matter particles has been found, detectors for the detailed study of dark matter particle nature should become the main goal. (4) Yangbajing Cosmic Ray Observatory (YCRO) With unique geographic conditions, YCRO is suitable for large-sky-area and round-the-clock high energy cosmic ray observation. Through construction of over 20 years, two cosmic ray detector allays have been built at YCRO in cooperation with Japan and Italy respectively with a lot of significant results achieved. YCRO has significant development opportunities in the observation of high energy γ astronomy. The international cooperations should be further promoted with the leadership of China to enlarge the detectors by 1–2 orders of magnitudes so as to make YCRO to become a large scientific infrastructure. The LHAASO project is to set up a large high-altitude air shower observatory at Yangbajing by taking advantage of the unique conditions in China and turn it into an international γ-ray astronomical observation research center for large-field, all-weather scan and search for γ-ray sources, measurements of γ-ray intensity spatial distribution and precise energy spectrum by greatly enhancing the sensitivity of γ-ray detection and attracting the most advanced international detection technologies to cooperation. The implementation of this project will help China to grasp the important opportunity of full complementation with other research centers in the world, break the bottleneck and make significant contribution to the cosmic ray research. According to the LHAASO project, a large γ astronomic survey scan and detection system will be built. This system contains a detector array covering 1 square kilometer integrated by 5 kinds of detectors. This detector · 30 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

(5) National Deep Underground Laboratory Several underground laboratories have been established since the 1960s in other countries, such as Homestake and Soudan in USA, Gran Sasso in Italy, Kamiokande in Japan, SNO in Canada, etc. Most of those underground laboratories have achieved important results, for instance, the experiments at Homestake and Kamiokande were awarded the 2002 Nobel Physics Prize. Underground laboratories are multidisciplinary experiment platforms and can be used repeatedly for different experiments. The research fields that can be carried out include measurement of rare decay (such as double β decay and nuclear decay), measurement of atmospheric neutrino, solar neutrino, supernova neutrino, earth neutrino and others, exploration of dark matter, magnetic monopole and other new particles, gravitational wave experiments, nuclear astrophysics experiments, materials science and life sciences experiments requiring very low background, etc. If the space of underground laboratory reaches tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of cubic meters, superlong baseline neutrino oscillation experiments can be done. The Jinping Mountain tunnel located at the big turn of the Yalong River near Xichang, Sichuan Province is the ideal site for building a national deep underground laboratory. For the Er’tan Hydropower Station under construction there, an over 100-kilometer long tunnel is being dug with most part of it being 2,500 meters deep underground. So it is no exaggeration to say that this is the best site for building a deep underground laboratory in the world. Anther important function of this laboratory is to study the stability and safety of the deep underground engineering. This is of great importance for satisfying the strategic demand of the state in several important fields. So the construction of a national deep underground laboratory in Jinping Mountain should be arranged actively. (6) International Cooperation Super large particle physics experiment facilities always need funds, technologies and labor (quantity and level) which exceed the capacity of any country in the world. Meanwhile they have no direct application prospects in the foreseeable future. Therefore, international cooperation is the basic mode of all countries in the world to carry out particle physics experiments. China’s participation in international cooperation on large scientific projects of high energy physics research with relative less input has great importance in promoting high energy physics research and cultivating talents, and it has made contribution to the international high energy physics frontier research. The enhancement of international technological cooperation level by a big margin is one of the necessary conditions for the realization of the goal of knowledge innovation and establishment of a first-class international institute. We must increase our visibility, have a place and make important contributions to the production of original results in international cooperation. We should carefully 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 31 ·

Roadmap 2050

array is mainly composed of the scintillator array detector, the muon detector array, the water Cherenkov detector and the large Cherenkov telescope.

Roadmap 2050

sum up the experience and lessons learnt from international cooperation in high energy physics, do a better job of the international cooperation planning, strengthen organization and management, concentrate limited labor force and fund and adhere to the principle “Refrain from doing some things in order to be able to do other things” in carefully selecting international cooperative items. Only by so doing, can we have a place in international cooperation and achieve pronounced result in scientific frontier research. The points of focus during our participation in international cooperation should be the data analysis and physical research of LHC experiment, the upgrading of accelerators and detectors and the construction of future large linear colliders. LHC experiments will be the most significant ones of high energy physics in the early period of this century. It is predicted that the experiment will last over 15 years. Meanwhile, the accelerator and detector will be greatly upgraded according to the experimental results and requirement of physics research in order to further increase the luminosity and center-of-mass energy. The International Linear Collider (ILC) with the center-of-mass energy of TeV is one of the main options of the next generation of large high energy physics experiment facilities. With it, physicists will precisely study the nature of Higgs particles and possibly new physics phenomena beyond the Standard Model based on the physics result of LHC. This is very important for answering the most basic questions of modern high energy physics and cosmology, such as symmetry, spontaneous breaking of symmetry, origin of mass and dark matter particle. ILC is an extra-high energy electron positron collider. It consists of two large superconducting linear accelerators. The initial goal is to accelerate the electrons and positrons to the energy of 250 GeV and the center-of-mass energy to 500 GeV. It is planned to increase the energy to 1 TeV in the future. The proposed plan for the construction of ILC is to be decided by the governments of participating countries. Hopefully it may be completed by the end of 2020. Another technological scheme is CLIC being studied by European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). CLIC adopts X-band warm temperature acceleration technology and the center-of-mass energy is up to 3 TeV. China should participate in this significant international cooperation with appropriate input. (7) R&D of Accelerator and Detector Technologies Advanced accelerator and detector technologies are the bases for the construction of large particle physics experiment facilities and large interscientific research platforms (such as synchrotron radiation source, spallation neutron source and hard X-ray free electron laser) and have wide applications in many high-tech fields. In terms of the advanced accelerator and detector technologies, there is a large gap between China and the world, that means the advanced accelerator and detector technologies we have cannot meet the requirement when constructing our large scientific facilities in the future. In order to realize the persistent development of particle physics research and large scientific facility construction in China, we must carefully plan and arrange the · 32 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

3.2 Nuclear Physics 1. Fundamental Research of Nuclear Physics The structure and properties of nuclei, nuclear matter, hadrons, and hadronic matter are the main frontiers of nuclear physics at the present time and in the near future. (1) Nuclear Physics at Low and Intermediate Energies and Nuclear Astrophysics In these fields, the search for the limit of nuclear existence and the investigation of the properties of nuclei and nuclear matter at extreme conditions will be involved, and the investigation of key nuclear processes in the stellar formation and evolution will also be included. High intensity heavy ion beams, especially radioactive ion beams with different energies, and the advanced detection devices are highly needed for experimental research. (2) Hadron Structure and Phase of Hadronic Matter Major objects in these fields are the “quark confinement”, the distributions of the quarks and gluons and their motion within the nucleon and the critical point of the phase transition in hadronic matter and so on. Various polarized and unpolarized beams at different energies and the powerful experimental devices are necessary for experimental research.

2. Applications of Nuclear Technology One of the important aspects of nuclear physics is to promote the applications of itself in other sciences, for instance, in energy source, space flight, biology medicine, materials and environmental science, archaeology, national defense and so on. The controlled nuclear fusion is an available way to solve the conundrum about energy source. The magnetic confined nuclear fusion and laser driven inertial confined nuclear fusion have been investigated for a long time and made much progress, but a lot of challenges still exist. So there is a long way to go for them to become commercial. Heavy ion driven inertial confined nuclear fusion is of higher energy transmission efficiency, therefore, it is worthy to 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 33 ·

Roadmap 2050

research and development of advanced accelerator and detector technologies in China according to the demand of the development of particle physics experiments, the planning for large scientific facilities and the strategic demand in relevant fields in China. The emphases on the development of advanced accelerator technologies are superconducting radio-frequency acceleration technology, high power proton accelerator technology, energy recovery linac technology, etc. The focal points of the development of advanced detector technologies are silicon detector technology and fast electronics technology.

Roadmap 2050

be investigated. To explore the heavy ion driven inertial confined fusion will also leverage the advancement of high intensity heavy ion accelerators, the fundamental research of high intensity plasma physics and the formation and properties of high energy intensity bulk matters. Heavy ion beam has a number of applications, such as heavy ion therapy, modification of medicines, research of special functional materials, safety checking of the single-particle effect for some space flight apparatuses and the biology effects of space particle irradiations. The construction of the application facility will be discussed in Chapter 5 .

3. Facilities for Nuclear Physics Research The high intensity proton accelerator J-PARC in Japan has delivered the first 30 GeV proton beam at the beginning of 2009. The existing large scale facilities for nuclear physics research in the world, for example, RHIC and CEBAF in USA, GANIL in France and RIKEN in Japan, will be upgraded in the near future for two major scientific goals. The first one is to increase energy for doing high energy nuclear physics, and the second one is to enhance beam intensity, especially radioactive ion beam intensity to study exotic nuclei and search for the limits of nuclear existence. Among the facilities which have been approved to be constructed in the world, the FAIR (facility for antiproton and ion research) in Germany is mainly to increase the beam energy compared with the existing ones and at the same time to enhance the beam intensity as high as possible. The main research goals of the FAIR are to investigate the nuclei and the phase of nuclear matter, and the hadrons and the phase of hadronic matter, as well as high energy density physics and high density plasma physics. The FRIB (Facility of rare isotope beams) in USA puts emphasis on various high intensity radioactive ion beams, and at the same time increases the beam energy as high as possible. The FRIB is mainly aimed at research of rare nuclei and nuclear astrophysics. There are two facilities for nuclear physics research in China, HI-13 in Beijing and HIRFL-CSR in Lanzhou. The performances of HI-13 will be greatly improved after its upgrade. The HIRFL-CSR was put into operation in 2008. The development of nuclear physics in China in the next 10 years (up to 2020) will be focused on two aspects. One is to upgrade the existing facilities to gain more varieties of radioactive ion beams and increase the beam’s intensity and performances, and to develop the advanced nuclear detection techniques and experimental methods in order to obtain more achievements in the researches on atomic physics, the limits of nuclear existence, and the properties of nuclear matter. The other aspect is to carry out R&D of large scale facilities. For a long-term plan (up to 2050), aiming at scientific frontier and the demands of national strategy, the designing and construction in step of a facility of ion, electron and beta beams (FIEB2), which could be a complex system for future progress of nuclear physics in China (Fig. 3.3), are needed. The major scientific goal of FIEB2 is to deliver high power heavy ion beams for the investigation of · 34 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

> 2500 m

M

HD

e-L

ES-34

ina

c S-HPLUS

IF D/ H HE

i-LINAC ECS-34 (ECS-100)

ECS-400 (SECS-800) AF

P Hi

H

iP

N

F

CSRe-34

S-RIBLL

RIB

LL3

SECS-800

S

eA

HiL

Fig. 3.3 The layout of FEIB2

International cooperation in nuclear physics research becomes more and more important as the scale of nuclear research facilities becomes larger and larger. The designing and construction of FEIB2 and the scientific researches at FEIB2, therefore, should be carried out through international cooperation. To adapt to the development of China’s nuclear physics research, focus of work on the facilities should be done in terms of the following aspects: (1) Upgrade of the HIRFL-CSR In upgrading the HIRFL-CSR, the first thing to do is to construct a heavy ion LINAC as the injector of CSR. Then it requires that the HPLUS which is a device for experimental investigations of hadron physics be set up. The HPLUS mainly consists of the inner target system, the superconducting solenoid, the detector and the data acquisition system. The inner target system includes the pellet target for pp and pd reactions, the laser driven polarized H/D target and the carbon fibre target for pA reactions. The detector system can measure the momenta, energy losses, masses, to identify particles and to detect the energies and directions of the neutral particles. (2) FIEB2 FIEB2 consists of the following accelerators: i-LINAC (ion linac), ECS-34 and ECS-400 (ion synchrotron) and CSR-34 (ion cooling storage ring), e-LINAC (electron linac) and ES-34 (electron synchrotron). When needs arise, ECS-34 and ECS-400 can be further upgraded to SECS-100 and SECS-800 respectively, with their normal magnets replaced by the superconducting ones, and another new SECS-800 be constructed accordingly. The experimental devices are composed of radioactive beamlines RIBLL3 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 35 ·

Roadmap 2050

heavy ion driven high energy intensity physics and inertial confined nuclear fusion. The high energy, high intensity, stable and radioactive ion beams, and the conditions provided by FEIB2 for the collision of high luminous electron beam with heavy ion beams could also be used to investigate the hadron structures and the phase of nuclear matter.

Roadmap 2050

and S-RIBLL, HED/HIF for heavy ion driven inertial confined nuclear fusion experiments, HDM for high energy intensity physics, HiPAF for high accuracy atomic physics experiments and a high resolution spectrometer HiLeAS.

3.3 Nuclear Energy Application Nuclear energy is the ideal strategical energy, and it is important for China’s sustainable economic development and environmental protection. In the 21st century, fission energy will be used as the main nuclear energy, and in the meantime great efforts made on the research of fusion energy. In the next 50 years, China will vigorously develop the application of nuclear energy. Nuclear power has gone through three generations of technologies, and the fourth-generation technology is under research and development. The sustainable development of nuclear power technology involves three levels of key technologies: to improve and enhance the thermal reactor nuclear power system level from the second-generation to the third-generation technology, the development of fast reactor nuclear power system and the fuel closed cycle technology to achieve optimum utilization of uranium resources, the development of sub-actinides and long-lived fission product burning (transmutation) technology to achieve nuclear waste minimization. However, there are still two major problems for the sustainable development of nuclear fission energy: the full utilization of nuclear fuel (proliferation) and long-lived nuclear waste processing (transmutation). Now the nuclear reactors widely used can only utilize uranium-235 which accounts for only 0.7% in natural uranium. As we know, the uranium resource in the earth only can meet the need of nuclear power stations for decades of years. It is necessary to develop more effective technologies to use natural uranium, or the technologies to use other nuclear fuels. So far the widely used method to bury nuclear waste deep underground has been proven to be unsustainable and will seriously harm the environment. It is necessary to develop suitable methods of transmuting the long-lived nuclear waste to short-lived radioactive material. During the 1960s, the way by separation and transmutation was proposed for dealing with the medium-lived and long-lived high radioactive nuclear waste. The sub-actinium and long-lived fission products (LLFP) were separated from the high level radioactive nuclear waste. And then they were put together to be transmuted to non-radioactive or short-lived nuclides. This technology can fully use the fuel and reduce the nuclear waste. Combining the burying of small amount of high level radioactive waste deep underground, the way by separation and transmutation is a reasonable choice. The proliferation and transmutation can use high energy neutron. There are many methods to produce high energy neutron, for example, accelerator, laser targeting, Z-pinch (inertial confinement), tokamak (magnetic confinement), etc. To this end, it is necessary to build some large scientific · 36 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

1. Accelerator Driven Sub-critical System Dealing with nuclear waste, especially the long-lived nuclear waste produced by nuclear power stations is a worldwide problem. With the increase of the capacity of pressurized water reactors, nuclear waste will be rapidly increased. For example, in 2030, the capacity of nuclear power plants in China will reach 80–100 GW, then the cumulative stock of spent fuel will reach 20,000– 25,000 t, including 16–20 tons of actinides and 24–30 tons of long-lived fission products (LLFP). The accelerator driven sub-critical system (the shortened form for ADS) is dedicated to the transmutation of radioactive nuclear waste and is one of the most powerful tools for the effective use of nuclear energy. As a new nuclear energy system for burning nuclear waste and producing clean nuclear energy, it has been generally accepted by the international community 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 37 ·

Roadmap 2050

facilities to study the scientific and engineering feasibility in order to make full use of the nuclear fuel and deal with the long-lived nuclear waste. Fusion energy is one of the solutions to solve the energy problem. The development of fusion energy has important strategic and economic significance for China's sustainable development. The research on fusion energy for peaceful use has been carried out for 50 years. The controlled fusion energy generation can be made possible by either magnetic confinement or inertial confinement fusion. Recently, high energy and high power laser facilities are being developed all over the world. This may inject new vitality in the development of laser fusion. In 2006, the EU included the high-power laser facility (HiPER) and ultra-high-intensity laser energy research facility (ELI) in the European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. The above-mentioned facilities can be used for fusion energy and multi-disciplinary basic research. The HiPER and ELI are planned to be completed around 2013 and 2015 respectively for the study of laser fusion energy, high-energy-density physics, particle accelerators, high-energy physics, nuclear physics, laboratory astrophysics, and interdisciplines. Recently, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA has proposed a laser inertial fusion-fission energy (LIFE) project, which uses high flux neutron to produce sub-critical fission releasing energy, it is similar to the accelerator driven sub-critical (ADS) system and the magnetic confinement fusion driven sub-critical (FDS) system. It will fully develop the advantage of laser fusion, and is considered an important technology to obtain pure fusion energy. According to the current status of the development of nuclear energy in the world and the actual conditions in China, the development of nuclear energy using big scientific facilities by ways of accelerator driven sub-critical (ADS) system, tokamak and laser fusion should be carried out in the next 50 years. It requires that big scientific facilities be constructed for the study of the development of nuclear energy science, engineering and commercial feasibilities.

Roadmap 2050

of nuclear science and technology. ADS is composed of a high current proton accelerator, an external neutron source generated by target and a sub-critical reactor. The bombardment of high energy proton beam produced by accelerator on the heavy metal target (such as liquid lead or lead-bismuth alloy) produces neutrons which drive a sub-critical reactor and maintain the chain reaction of the sub-critical reactor in order to obtain the energy and use the excess neutron for proliferation of nuclear materials and nuclear waste transmutation. As a result, Uranium-238 can be transformed into plutonium-239 which can be used again. The utilization rate of Uranium resource will be increased at least by a factor of 70–80 compared with the current utilization rate. In addition, ADS may also use the very rich Thorium resources in nature as the raw material of nuclear fission energy. Because the Thorium-Uranium cycle fission system can avoid the problem of nuclear proliferation, it is conducive to the development of using fission nuclear energy. The so-called sub-critical system is a system which is in a state of relative safety and in principle will not have any occurrence of critical accident relative to the nuclear power plants in critical state and the atomic bomb in super-critical state. Even if a critical accident happens, the reaction can be stopped in milliseconds by cutting off the neutron source. Almost all longlived actinides can become the fissionable resource in ADS system, the using of actinides is better than all the other known critical reactors. The transmutation support ratio (how much long-lived radioactive waste produced by the same scale PWR nuclear power station an ADS could transform) can reach 12 or so. There is no strict limit to the amount of actinium as ADS fuel. This advanced closed fuel cycle approach is characterized by good resources, safety and environmental benefit, and technologically, it is the preferred choice for the sustainable development of fission nuclear energy. Chinese scientists have conducted the conceptual study on ADS during 1996–1999, and made progress which is synchronous with that of the international community. In 1999, the R&D of ADS was supported in the National Basic Research Program (also called 973 Program). Under this program, China Institute of Atomic Energy and Institute of high Energy Physics undertake the five-year basic research on physics and technology of the accelerator driven clean energy system (ADS). So far, they have built the fastthermal-coupled ADS sub-critical experiment platform and the highest power high-current proton RFQ injector in operation in the world. At present, China’s ADS research as a whole has reached the international level. The United States, the European Union, Japan, Korea and other countries each have drawn a 30 year development roadmap for ADS from R&D to industrial demonstration. Now, the international situation is such that the conceptual study has evolved into the physics process, the study of technical components and the conceptual study of nuclear energy systems integration, and the next step is to build a small-scale system integration device. ADS research in China is still in the phase of basic research and pre-research of key components. · 38 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2. Tokamak Thanks to the efforts in the past 5 decades, the feasibility that tokamak works as a controlled magnetic confinement fusion reactor has been preliminarily verified. The next key problem that should be solved is the engineering feasibility and commercial feasibility. It is closely related to two big scientific problems: the steady state of operation of hot plasma and the burning plasma physics. It is just for solving these two big problems that ITER is built. For physics experiment, the most important tasks confronting us are to study the steady state operation in EAST (which is the Chinese superconducting noncircular cross section tokamak), and to study the basic physics and engineering issues for handling advanced plasma scenarios, and to explore the effectual method to realize the long-pulse hot plasma, to provide more solid scientific bases for ITER’s design and operation, and to raise China’s nuclear fusion technology to the international advanced level. To join ITER and to have a complete mastery of its design and technology are of strategic importance for Chinese fusion research development. Efforts are needed in China’s nuclear fusion research before approaching the stage of reactor construction and doing experiment. It is an important opportunity for 3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 39 ·

Roadmap 2050

The key technologies of ADS involve general design, high power accelerator, high power spallation target, coolant, sub-critical reactor, the process after ADS, etc. Considering the accumulated nuclear waste in China and the sustainable development strategy of nuclear power, it is extremely important to put the ADS system in operation around 2035. According to experts, the building of a demonstrated device starting from the development of ADS technologies will undergo three phases which take about 30 years. In the coming 10 years, the principle will be validated during the first phase to solve the key technology of ADS system, including the R&D of a high power accelerator with high efficiency, high reliability and minimal beam loss; the development of key technologies of high-power lead-bismuth liquidtarget and refrigerant, and the feasibility study of building a reclaimed water reprocessing plant for commercial use to meet the post-processing requirements of ADS, etc. In order to break through these technologies, China will build a low-energy and high power accelerator and an appropriate scale LBE testing loop as well as a several MW sub-critical testing plant to prove the design and technology in the near future During the second phase from 2021 to 2035, a medium-sized prototype ADS will be fabricated by integrating related technologies. A 30 MW experimental sub-critical reactor driven by an accelerator (ADS) will be built and operated, and the transmutation experiment started. The third phase from 2036 to 2050 is for a full-sized ADS industrial demonstration. By integrating related technologies, an 800 MW power demonstration reactor driven by a full energy and lower current 10MW beam power accelerator will be built and operated to test its reliability and efficiency.

Roadmap 2050

China to join in ITER’s construction and experiments. In this way, we can fully master ITER’s knowledge and technology, bring up many fusion experts, and carry out basic fusion research as well as the study of necessary fusion reactor technologies in our country. Thus it is possible for China’s fusion research to stand at the world forefront with less investment and in a short period of time, and lay a foundation for China to independently carry out the R&D of a nuclear fusion demonstration power station. The ultimate aim for China to join ITER is the realization of using fusion energy in China as early as possible. We should actively participate in the construction of ITER, and master the key technologies of fusion reactor. In the course of ITER construction, we shall fabricate the superconducting wire, design the shielding blanket and some other components for ITER, and develop the manufacturing technologies. In the meantime, we shall develop the key technologies involving the Nb 3Sn superconducting magnet, the fusion materials with low activation, blanket, the tritium plant, remote handling, high-power steady-state neutral injection, microwave-heating and advanced diagnostics. We shall carry out independently the design, research and development of a multi-functional reactor to lay a solid foundation for the construction of an experimental reactor in 2020. During the period of 2021–2035, ITER will enter the stage of planned physics experiment on steady-state operation. We shall send our experts to join in the operation of ITER and physics experiments. At the same time, our research in China will focus on the construction and operation of the 500MW fusion experimental reactor, focusing on advanced operation mode, tritium self-sustaining, particle and power handling, low-activation materials and other key technologies for fusion demonstration reactor, and the verification of the portfolio of overall parts. During the period of 2036–2050, ITER will enter the stage of operation with high performance and decommissioning. According to the development trend of nuclear fusion research and the international environment at that time, there are two options for developing nuclear fusion energy in China: The first one is to build a 1GW fusion-fission demonstration reactor and then to commercialize nuclear fusion energy. The other option is to build a 1GW magnetic confinement fusion demonstration reactor as a fusion energy technological application in the field of energy before the commercialization of fusion energy.

3. Laser Fusion Laser fusion, one of the main ways to achieve inertial confinement fusion, is of great strategic significance in achieving controlled thermonuclear fusion. The international community is actively promoting the development of ultrahigh intensity laser device with high energy and high power, which can inject new vitality in the laser fusion development. Laser fusion research in China, particularly fusion research on high-power laser drivers, has a place in the world and the only complete high-power laser driver technology support system · 40 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

3 Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Energy

· 41 ·

Roadmap 2050

has been set up except the United States. China has successfully constructed Shenguang series of high-power laser drivers since the 1980’s and developed the series of super-ultra-short-wavelength laser systems for basic laser-fast-ignition experiments in the middle of 1990s. In addition, Chinese scientists have also achieved important results in the basic research of laser fusion physics, thereby providing a good basis in terms of technology and technical personnel for further research on laser fusion energy in China. The laser drivers in China are projected to output several hundred thousand joules in the 12th Five-Year Plan and then more than one million joules in the13th Five-Year Plan. The laser intensity is expected to reach over 1022 W/cm2 and 1024 W/cm2 respectively during the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plan, which will provide a good foundation for laser fusion energy research. The strategic planning for the development of fusion energy before the year of 2050 is as follows: In 2015, great progress will be made in breaking through the key technologies of fast ignition driver of laser fusion and in the basic experimental study. It is planned to build a one hundred thousand Joules’ level experimental platform for the principle study of fast ignition of laser fusion. In 2020, a laser-fast-ignition demonstration platform with the output power over 200,000 J will be built and the successful fusion ignition achieved, with about 20 times the fusion gain. A testing system will be successfully developed to verify the principle of laser-driven fusion-fission mixed reactor. Significant progress should be made in key technologies on high-repetitionfrequency fusion energy laser drivers. In 2030, high-repetition-frequency laser drivers are planned to reach 10 MW output level. A successful demonstration system of laser-driven fusionfission reactor for power generation should be built with the system gain up to about 100 times. In 2040, the power generation of 500 MW-class laser-driven fusion-fission reactor is planned to reach the trial-commercialization level. A purely laserdriven fusion power demonstration system will be successfully developed. In 2050, it is expected that a laser-driven fusion-fission power plant with the output power from 500 MW to 1 GW will reach the commercialization level and the laser-driven-fusion power generation achieve the trialcommercialization level.

Roadmap 2050

4

Astronomy and Space Science

New astronomical instruments have broadened our horizon from all aspects, thereby enabling us to observe the universe with higher sensitivity and angular resolution, full sky survey and full time observations in all electromagnetic bands, including radio, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma-ray bands. Important astronomical windows opened up by cosmic ray and neutrino observations and gravitational wave telescopes being built make it possible to observe the universe completely. New types of astronomical objects and phenomena are discovered constantly with those new capabilities brought by these new astronomical telescopes and observation instruments. Based upon astronomical observations, large scale numerical simulations, data analysis and theoretical studies allow to better understand these new phenomena and to explore new laws of astronomy, astrophysics and fundamental physics. Therefore the development of modern astronomy is mainly made of a series of new astronomical discoveries and their quantitative understanding; in this process the capabilities brought by these new astronomical telescopes and instruments play imperative roles. It is therefore clear that astronomy is a discipline of science driven by observations, just like physics—a discipline of science moved by experiments. Astronomy studies the objects in the universe with different scales, with space and time scales covering 60 orders of magnitude, including the origin, structure and evolution of the sun and all kinds of objects in the solar system, stars and their planetary systems, galaxies and clusters of galaxies, as well as the whole universe. The earth’s environment is closely related to the sun; solar activities impact the earth’s environment and human activities significantly and even decisively. Studies of other planets and explorations of ex-terrestrial lives can help understand the origin and evolution of lives, and may even answer the question if the human being is alone in the universe. The origin and evolution of the universe and life are the important problems of common concern of all mankind; they are not only of scientific importance, but also exercise deep influence over our view of the world. Therefore achievements of astronomy are an important component of natural science, human culture and civilization. H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

4.1 Astrophysical Problems of Black Holes and Other Compact Objects Black holes have been attracting extraordinary interest of researchers 4 Astronomy and Space Science

· 43 ·

Roadmap 2050

All kinds of extreme physical environments, and even the universe itself, provide a natural laboratory for studying various physical laws, covering energy scales more than 30 orders of magnitude. Due to the limitation of the highest energy and luminosity of man-made accelerators on the earth, the study of the early universe may provide the ultimate tests of the physical theories unifying all forces in nature. Excellent conditions are provided by the super-strong gravitational fields near black holes and other compact objects for testing general relativity. Astronomical observations have found that the universe is mainly made of dark matter and dark energy, which have not been predicted or even reasonably explained by current physical theories. Therefore astronomical observations have fundamentally challenged the current physical theories, and the interdisciplinary researches of astronomy and particle physics may discover “new physics”. In the 21st century, astronomy once again becomes the major force pushing forward the development of natural science. Advanced astronomical observation means that new technological advances brought by the development of astronomical instruments as well as the achievements of astronomical researches are very important to economic development, national security and social development. Astronomical research and development benefit time and frequency measurements, navigation, space exploration, space weather forecast, and radio communications. X-ray pulsar navigation may bring deep and long term revolution and influence over our future social living and military activities. In addition, observing, monitoring and studying the earth from space have irreplaceable importance to our understanding of the earth’s complete and long term changes. The development of space astronomy also provides the demand for the advancement of aeronautics and space technology. In the meantime, astronomy plays important roles in science outreach, youth education and enhancement of science spirit. Modern researches of astronomy and space science move towards observing the universe more deeply with higher spatial resolution and spectral resolution, therefore they are increasingly relying on large and high performance observation facilities. The new facilities China is planning to build will mainly solve the following important scientific problems: 1) astrophysical problems of black holes and other compact objects; 2) origin of the universe and all other structures; 3) the influence of the sun and the solar system over the earth and the survival and development of human society; 4) serching for earthlike planets outside the solar system and evidence of life beyond the earth; 5) global and long-term variations of the earth.

Roadmap 2050

and the general public for the mystery of their nature. In the late 1930’s, as general relativity and quantum mechanics—two physical theories of modern physics were applied to the studies of the late evolution phase of stars, it has been predicted that the core of a massive star in its late evolution phase will collapse to a black hole. Up to now, about 20 stellar mass black holes (about 10 times the solar mass) have been identified. On the other hand, the concept of a black hole has been extended to galactic scales. Since the discovery of quasars in the 1960’s, these black holes, with the mass between 105–1010 solar masses and called supermassive black holes, are believed to be located in the centers of almost all galaxies. The existence of black holes with masses between the two classes, called intermediate mass black holes, has been hinted in dwarf galaxies, stellar clusters and ultra-luminous X-ray sources. Therefore, tremendous observational evidence supporting black holes’ existence in the universe is gradually uncovering the mysteries of black holes. Matter in the systems of black holes, neutron stars and other compact objects must experience the extreme physical conditions, such as the strong gravitational field around the black holes and neutron stars, the strong magnetic fields and high densities of neutron stars, the turbulence, high pressure, high temperature, high energy density, shocks and highly relativistic motions in accretion flows, outflows and jets. Besides the electromagnetic radiations, some of these high energy systems also produce strong neutrino radiation, and may also be the sources of cosmic rays and observable gravitational waves. Astrophysical systems harboring black holes, or neutron stars, or other compact objects include active galactic nuclei, X-ray binaries, ultra-luminous X-ray sources, gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, pulsars, etc. Despite the different masses and space-time scales, they have common characteristics in their physical structures, i.e., they are centered by black holes or other compact objects (mainly neutron stars): an active galactic nucleus is powered by its central black hole accreting its surrounding matter; an X-ray binary is powered by the accretion process of its stellar mass black hole or neutron star; an ultraluminous X-ray source is powered by the accretion process either from a stellar mass black hole or from an intermediate mass black hole; the super-high energy output of a gamma-ray burst is probably powered by the super-high accretion rate of the stellar mass black hole or a highly magnetized neutron star; supernovae may be the avenues forming stellar mass black holes and neutron stars; pulsars are rapidly spinning and highly magnetized neutron stars. The formation and evolution of black holes and their influence are more profound problems. A stellar mass black hole may be formed by direct collapse of a massive star in its late phase of evolution, or through an intermediate process of a neutron star first; this process may appear as a supernova explosion or a gamma-ray burst. Currently it is not clear which kind of stars may eventually become black holes or neutron stars. In fact binary systems contain black holes or neutron stars exhibit similar high energy radiation and dynamical properties. Therefore neutron star and black hole researches are closely related. · 44 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

4 Astronomy and Space Science

· 45 ·

Roadmap 2050

It is even more primitive in our understanding of black holes in active galactic nuclei, especially on their formation and evolution, their roles in the evolution of their host galaxies, and the heating to the gas in clusters of galaxies by active galactic nuclei. The issue has just recently been raised on the formation of intermediate mass black holes and their relation with other two kinds of black holes. In addition, strong X-ray emission can be produced through the energy transportation process to the interstellar and inter-galactic space by supernova shock waves and pulsar winds; it is important to understand the impact of such X-ray radiation on galactic ecology. In order to solve the above important scientific problems, several advanced space astronomy facilities are to be built and operated step by step through three “Science Programs”. In the first stage, the “Black Hole Probe” (BHP) program needs to be completed. Its scientific goals are to study highenergy processes of cosmic objects and black hole physics through observations of compact objects such as all kinds of black holes and gamma-ray bursts, and to understand the extreme physical processes and laws in the universe with extreme objects such as black holes as probes of how stars and galaxies evolve. The program will mainly include Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) satellite, Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) satellite and Gamma-ray Burst Polarization (POLAR) experiment on board China’s Spacelab. In the second stage, the “Diagnostics of Astro-Oscillations” (DAO) Program needs to be implemented. Part of its scientific goals is to make high-precision photometric and timing measurements of electromagnetic radiation at various wavebands and non-electromagnetic radiation, in order to understand the space-time structures surrounding black holes, the formation and evolution of black holes and the internal structures of various astrophysical objects and the processes of various violent activities. The program will mainly include X-ray Timing and Polarization (XTP) satellite and future gravitational wave detectors. In the third stage, the “Portraits of Astrophysical Objects” (PAO) Program should be planned. Part of its scientific goals is to obtain direct photographs (portraits) of astrophysical objects beyond the solar system such as solar-like stars, exoplanets, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes which are essential for understanding the scientific questions such as the construction of the universe. The program will mainly include high-resolution X-ray interferometer telescope and interferometer telescope arrays space VLBI, telescope array, lunar based telescope array, moon-earth combined array, telescope arrays at L1 and L2, etc.). Among the above projects, HXMT is the key project in China’s “EleventhFive-Year Planning” for space science. It requires that this project be executed as soon as possible. As the key project in the PAO program, XTP is an X-ray telescope with large area (6.4 m2) and broad energy band (1–30 keV) proposed by China’s astronomy community. Its temporal observation capability is better than the US-Europe-Japan joint “International X-ray Observatory” (IXO) at 1–30 keV for X-ray sources brighter than 1 mCrab, energy resolution better than 150 eV at 6 keV and polarization measurement capability comparable

Roadmap 2050

with IXO. In the hard X-ray band between 10–200 keV, its imaging monitoring and polarization measurement capabilities for transient sources are better than SVOM and POLAR, respectively. Therefore the XTP project will make China’s observation and research on black holes and other compact objects to stand at the forefront in the world. Pre-research on this project is therefore needed urgently. For the PAO program, the existing technologies are far from enough, thus optimization of the scientific objectives and conceptual studies are required. The identification of key technologies and their breakthroughs are also called for.

Fig. 4.1 Illustration of the proposed XTP satellite

4.2 Origin and Evolution of the Universe and Its Structures As shown by abundant astronomical observations, the universe is expanding. Application of general relativity to cosmology has provided us with the Big Bang model of cosmology, which predicts that our present universe is the outcome of an explosion that produced cosmic microwave background radiation, which was later verified by astronomical observations. However, extrapolating back to the moment of the explosion, we find that the density and energy of the universe are infinite, which raises the so-called singularity difficulty. In the meantime, the universe under present observations follows the cosmological principle at large scales, i.e., at the same moment the average density of the universe is the same everywhere. However, when extrapolated from the present universe back to the extremely early universe, the present scale of the universe would be much larger than the scale of its horizon predicted by the Big Bang model, which is the so-called horizon problem. · 46 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Fig. 4.2 The structures and celestial bodies of the universe at different scales (Photo source: Max Tegmark, Science, 2002, 296: 1427)

Currently, China’s “Large Area Multi-object Optical-fiber Spectroscopic Telescope” (LAMOST) is internationally competitive at studying the above scientific problems and will obtain important scientific results. In order to further solve the above important scientific problems, several advanced space 4 Astronomy and Space Science

· 47 ·

Roadmap 2050

In addition, the standard Big Bang model also can not explain the density fluctuations required for the formation of the cosmic large scale structures and the observational result that the total matter-energy density is close to that required for maintaining a flat universe. Therefore inflationary cosmological models have been proposed, i.e., the universe had experienced a short period of extremely rapid inflation at the beginning of the Big Bang. Such models can resolve simultaneously the horizon problem, the flatness problem and the density perturbation problem. Since 1998, a series of astronomical observations, such as the supernovae observations and results obtained by COBE, Boomerang, MAXIMA, DASI, WMAP, SDSS, etc. have convincingly established the basic framework of inflationary cosmology, and found that the expansion of the universe is actually accelerating, thus revealing the existence of dark energy with repulsive force (negative pressure). Today, we know that the universe is mostly composed of dark matter (which does not emit light) and dark energy, and have obtained with certain accuracy various parameters of the current inflationary cosmological models. Cosmological research has thus entered a new era of precision cosmology. However, many important and profound scientific questions are still far from being answered, such as the inflation mechanism in inflationary cosmology, the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the formation and evolution of cosmic structures, the universality of general relativity and its unification with quantum mechanics, etc.

Roadmap 2050

and ground-based astronomical facilities should be built and operated. In the near and mid-term, priorities are given to: Upgrading LAMOST, including adding intermediate and high dispersion spectrographs and taking full advantage of the large sky area and multi-fiber spectrscopic capability of LAMOST in order to study the stellar population, dynamical properties, ages and metallicities of stars, star formation process in galaxies, as well as galaxy formation and enviromental impacts by taking intermediate dispersion spectrographic observations of a large amount of low redshift galaxies. Such studies will provide firm observation foundation to theories of galaxy formation and evolution. Since the Milky Way is the best sample for studying galaxy formation and evolution, intermediate and high dispersion spectroscopic observations of stars brighter than 16 magnitudes (including stars in the galactic halo, thin disk and thick disk) may help establish the model for the formation and evolution of the Milky Way, and thus advance the development of local cosmology. Building China’s South Pole Astronomical Observatory. In Phase 1, a fivemeter class THz telescope and a two-meter class infrared/visible telescope will be built. In Phase 2, the focal point will be the building of a four-meter class large field of view optical-infrared telescope and a 15-meter class THz telescope. In a longer time, a 10-meter class infrared/visible, large field of view and spectroscopic survey/imaging telescope and a THz far infrared interferometer array may be considered. Taking advantage of the South Pole Dome A’s excellent astronomical observation condition of the best site on the earth, China’s South Pole Astronomical Observatory will be able to produce many important results at many frontiers of astronomy, including the properties of dark energy and dark matter, the origin of the first generation stars and galaxies, the formation and evolution of stars and galaxies. In the second stage of the long-term development plan, large astronomical telescopes will be built at excellent sites in western China, including: (1) A 30 to 50-meter active optics sub-millimeter/millimeter telescope This telescope will be used not only to study the yet unclear mechanism of early star formation, but in the meantime may also study interstellar matter, making this waveband the hot research area of astro-chemistry. High sensitivity and high angular resolution millimeter and sub-millimeter observations will facilitate broad research, such as planetary atmosphere, exoplanets, active galactic nuclei, origin and evolution of stars, large scale distribution of galaxies and star clusters, and even cosmic microwave background and its anisotropy. Such studies may eventually lead to the understanding of the formation and evolution of cosmic large scale structures in the universe.

· 48 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Roadmap 2050 Fig. 4.3 Illustration of the 30 to 50-meter active optics sub-millimeter/millimeter telescope

(2) A 30 to 50-meter extremely large optical-infrared telescope China has successfully built LAMOST, the telescope with the largest aperture and large field of view, indicating that China’s telescope technology is at the world’s frontier. Following the continuing growth of China’s national strength and the increase of investment in science and technology, building a 30 to 50-meter extremely large optical-infrared telescope with China playing the main role will significantly advance China’s astronomy, there by making China’s astronomy at the international frontiers entirely. This telescope will be used to achieve many important results at many astronomical frontiers, including the study of the category of supermassive black holes, the star formation history in the universe, dark energy and dark matter, the first generation of objects in the universe, reionization (7
1122 fan-shaped non-spherical Rocking-chair horizontal rake construction sub-lenses spliced 4 Nasmyth platforms Sub mirror with the diameter < 3 meters Fig. 4.4 Illustration of the 30 to 50-meter extremely large optical-infrared telescope

4 Astronomy and Space Science

· 49 ·

Roadmap 2050

(3) Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 12 to 16-meter large field of view optical telescope The successful construction of LAMOST puts China in a strong position at large field of view spectroscopic survey. It is therefore planned that a large field of view telescope with aperture of 2–3 times that of LAMOST, i.e., 12–16 meters, will be built at an excellent site at Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by taking advantage of China’s leading technical strength at large scale spectroscopic survey with large aperture and large field of view. With relatively low cost, this telescope will complement the 30 to 50-meter extremely large optical-infrared telescope and stay at the frontiers of astronomy research. The multi-color photometry and multi-object optical fiber survey observations will make wide and deep studies on cosmology, cosmic first generation stars, galaxy formation and evolution, dark matter and dark energy, galactic structure, etc.

4.3 Impact of the Sun and Solar System on the Earth and the Survival and Development of Human Society The sun originated from 5 billion years ago and will continue to live for about 5 billion more years (up to the end of the main sequence star phase). It has evolved by now into a steady phase. Human society is closely related to solar activities. The interactions between the solar wind and the terrestrial atmosphere form physically different regions like magnetosphere, ionosphere and the middle and upper atmosphere. Any variations on the sun will result in unpredictable consequences to life on earth. The long-term variation of solar radiation can give rise to the glacial periods on the earth. The intense solar flares and coronal mass ejections which appear frequently during the peak years of the 11-year cycle of solar activity influence geospace environment by disturbing communications and navigation, threatening the health of astronauts, and even destroying spacecrafts and causing a breakdown of power grids on the ground. With more and more human involvement in space technologies, the damage from space weather to people is becoming more obvious. There are two meanings in studying the sun: 1) One is the astrophysical meaning since the sun is the only star which can be observed with high spatial resolution; 2) The other one is that since human beings on the earth depend on the sun, we need to understand the influence of solar activity upon human beings. The sun, due to its close proximity to the earth, provides us with a unique example to observe the detailed magnetic structures, plasma processes and the various interactions of electro-magnetic fields. Just like a cosmic laboratory, the sun plays a unique role in the study of stellar formation and evolution. The solar activities vary in forms, from well-known sunspots, flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) to small-scale energy release (like · 50 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Fig. 4.5 A CME observed by SOHO, a joint ESA-NASA mission (Photo source: SOHO homepage)

Besides, in order to better understand the formation and evolution of our own planet—the earth, we need to study our neighbors in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, the Moon, as well as comets and minor planets. To understand the origin and evolution of the solar system, we need to study the giant planets and their satellite systems. To better understand the effect of the sun on the solar system, we need to study the transmission and evolution of 4 Astronomy and Space Science

· 51 ·

Roadmap 2050

micro-flares, Ellerman bombs), complicated coronal structures, coronal loop interactions, as well as long-term periodic variations. All of these phenomena are deeply connected to the generation and variations of the solar magnetic field. How does the solar magnetic field originate from the bottom of convection zone via solar dynamo mechanism? How does the magnetic field emerge via magnetic buoyancy on the solar surface in the form of sunspots and other magnetic configurations? How does the surface magnetic field interact and evolve? How does the magnetic free energy accumulate and release in the form of the flares and CMEs? How does the solar wind and CMEs interact with the space environment in solar-terrestrial space and geospace? Why is there an 11year cycle of solar activity? The aforementioned questions need to be explored and answered. The violent solar activities, besides their universal astrophysical meaning in explaining cosmic bursts and energy releases, exert great influence on aviation, spaceflight, satellite communications, navigation, as well as people’s daily life. More and more efforts have been devoted to the study of solar activities. Ten years ago, a new field “Space Weather” was proposed and now it has become a major focus of modern interdisciplinary science. Fig. 4.5 shows a CME observed by SOHO, a joint ESA-NASA mission.

Roadmap 2050

solar events in the planetary medium. The exploration of how the sun and the solar system influence the environment on the earth and human life is a constant theme for human beings.

Fig. 4.6 Illustration of the Space Solar Telescope

In order to solve the above important scientific problems, several advanced space facilities need to be built and operated with special emphasis, such as the Space Solar Telescope, whose main scientific objectives are to measure the vector magnetic fields on the solar fundamental magnetic element scale (75–100 km) and make high temporal and spatial resolution observations of variation phenomena on different scales in solar atmosphere at broad wavebands and continuous time evolution, in order to explore the physical mechanism of chromospheric and coronal heating, to study the physical mechanism of energy storage, accumulation and release in solar flares and coronal mass ejections, to understand the properties and nature of solar activities, and ultimately make significant breakthroughs in solar physics research, and to provide important physical foundation and methods for space weather forecast. In the meantime, SST’s key technologies are very important to China’s space high-technology and national security. Besides SST, other planned or proposed space programs or missions include: KuaFu program, Super-High Angular Resolution X-ray Solar Telescope (SHARP-X) mission, “Solar Polar Orbit Radio Telescope” (SPORT) program and “Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere” (MIT) coupling exploration program.

4.4 Searching for Earth-like Exoplanets and Evidence of Life Beyond the Earth In 1995, the first Jupiter-sized exoplanet was found beside the sun· 52 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

4 Astronomy and Space Science

· 53 ·

Roadmap 2050

like star 51 peg. This important discovery not only initiated the exploration of planets beyond the solar system and extraterrestrial civilizations, but also proved that planets could be formed in the disk surrounding a star. These disks hiding young stars are a shared characteristic of stellar evolution and planetary system formation. So far, more than 200 planetary systems beyond our solar system have been identified, including more than 270 planets. However, all of the planets found beyond our solar system are not terrestrial planets which are suitable for human residence, but rather the larger gaseous planets similar to Jupiter and Saturn, a hundred times bigger than the earth. On April 24, 2007, European Southern Observatory (ESO) announced that a research group with 11 astronomers found a planet Gliese 581C which is probably suitable for human residence beyond the solar system. Its mass is about 5 times more than the earth, and its volume is 1.5 times the earth. It is composed of rock and water. The temperature on it depends on the albedo. With the earth and Hesper as references, its surface temperature is about 0–40ą. Due to several billion years of geologic processes, this kind of planets seems more suitable for human residence than the earth. This discovery provides a new reference for the exploration of life elsewhere. The international space programs with the goal of exploring planetary systems and terrestrial planets are to observe the terrestrial planets with atmosphere, and to study their potential for supporting life. Exploring planets beyond the earth, especially terrestrial planets, will provide the possibility of finding evidence of life elsewhere, which is an extremely exciting endeavor. The Kepler Space Telescope used to explore terrestrial planets beyond the solar system for the first time in the world was launched by the U.S.A on March 6, 2009. The Kepler Space Telescope will explore hundreds of thousands of sidereal systems in Cygnus and Lyra for three and half years to search for the terrestrial planets and evidence of life. Currently China is still in the starting stage in this field. In order to change this disadvantageous situation and advance into the international frontiers, China needs: 1) in the DAO program to discover and study deeply exoplanets through high precision photometry observation missions; 2) in the PAO program to obtain the direct photographs of exoplanets and their disks, through high contrast chronograph imaging; 3) in the LAMOST upgrade, combining external dispersive interfere measurement technology and methods, to search through several hundred thousand stars with planets in the next 20 years, making LAMOST the most powerful exoplanet detection telescope in the world; 4) to take advantage of the excellent astronomical observation conditions in the south pole, and the several months’ continuous night time each year, which are especially suitable for exoplanet search; 5) all candidate large telescopes in the mid to long term, e.g., the 30 to 50 meter active optics optical, sub-millimeter/ millimeter telescope, the 30–50 meter extremely large optical-infrared telescope, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau 12–16 meter large field of view optical telescope, will all be used to search for and study exoplanets, especially earth-like exoplanets.

Roadmap 2050

4.5 Global and Long-term Changes of the Earth From the observations of the earth from space, the following important problems may be answered: 1) How do global environmental changes affect China? 2) What are the major driving factors for regional changes, and what are the possible response mechanisms? 3) What are the typical spatial and temporal scales and the governing laws for the impact of environmental change such as energy shortage, water shortage and pollution, ecological deterioration of the environment, drought and desertification, public health, major natural disasters, etc.? 4) How to improve the ability for the detection, simulation and prediction of all kinds of key elements such as CO2, nitrogen oxides, methane, net primary production, surface temperature, land cover, ice and snow coverage change, surface water change, sun radiation, cirrus, and so on? In order to answer the above important scientific problems, a new generation large and general purpose satellite borne earth observation platform system and advanced moon-based earth observing facility are needed.

· 54 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

5.1 Large Advanced Light Source 1. Current Status and Future Development in the World (1) Current Status Nowadays, synchrotron radiation (SR) light sources are the most widely operated large scientific facilities in the world. Due to their outstanding features, such as continuous and broad frequency spectrum, highly collimated emission, high intensity and brilliance, polarization, time structure, high vacuum conditions and the almost unique possibility to calculate precisely the spectral emission at all wavelengths, as high-level multidisciplinary experiment platforms, the essential roles they play in the modern scientific and technological development are universally acknowledged by the scientific community, the society as well as the governments of all countries. Experimental researches based on synchrotron radiation technology involve many disciplines and a large number of applications. In addition, the synchrotronradiation-based technologies have become indispensable tools in many frontier disciplines. For instance, the biological macromolecular structures are mainly solved by the synchrotron-radiation-based technologies. And the synchrotron radiation research in this regard is one of the fields in which the application of synchrotron radiation technology has developed most quickly and achieved most important results. Some Nobel Chemistry Prize winners have all greatly benefited from synchrotron radiation researches. Actually, synchrotron radiation light source has played an increasingly important role in many scientific disciplines, such as life sciences, physics, chemistry, materials science, information and technology, energy and environmental science as well as advanced manufacturing technology represented by microelectronics machining, and become a prerequisite for almost any future breakthrough in major theories and technologies. H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

Roadmap 2050

5

Multidisciplinary Research Platform

Roadmap 2050

Since the birth of the first synchrotron radiation light source in the 1960– 1970’s, its related theory and technology have rapidly developed. Generally speaking, it has experienced three stages in its development, respectively called the first generation synchrotron radiation light source, the second generation synchrotron radiation light source and the third generation synchrotron radiation light source. The first generation SR light sources refer to the dualpurpose accelerators or e/e+ colliders with the execution of high-energy physics experiments set as the main goal and synchrotron radiation research mainly performed in parasitic mode. The second generation SR light sources refer to new light sources using dedicated storage rings and both bending magnets and insertion devices. The third generation SR light sources refer to those fully dedicated storage rings designed to produce synchrotron radiation from a special light source with high luminosity produced by optimized insertion devices, e.g. wigglers and undulators. However, with the advent of the third generation SR light sources, many of the previous light sources remain in operation for high-class experiments. The third generation high luminosity light source is characterized by smaller beam emittance and higher flux and stability which make it possible to do high-resolution experiments in the space, time and energy domains. On the other hand, the new synchrotron radiation light sources are sometimes complementary; each one has its own characteristics, such as different radiation wavelengths and research objects. The second and third generation synchrotron radiation light sources will co-exist and continue to co-exist for a decade or more, complement and reinforce each other. With the continuous advancement of accelerator technologies, many countries are exploring the development of the 4th generation light sources which are characterized by ultra high photon brilliance, ultra short pulse and high coherence. These new sources include linear accelerators such as free electron lasers, diffraction limit storage rings, i.e., light sources with extremely small beam dimensions, energy recovery light (ERL) machines coupled to linear accelerators, and other rings working with ultra short bunches in order to emit an intense flux of coherent radiation at long wavelengths. In terms of photon energy, synchrotron radiation light sources are typically classified as X-ray and vacuum ultraviolet (including the soft X-ray component) light sources. Now, there are about 50 synchrotron radiation light sources in operation and more than 20 approved or under construction in the world. Among them, 31 are X-ray light sources (13 of them belong to the third generation and 4 of them are FELs) and 39 VUV and soft X-ray light sources (9 belong to the third generation and 11 are FELs). Most of these machines are in the United States, Japan and Europe. It should be noted that only 4 US DOE operated synchrotron radiation light sources, ESRF in Europe and Spring-8 in Japan have more than 20,000 users each year. (2) Future Development Synchrotron radiation light sources are experimental platforms for multidisciplinary research rather than scientific facilities specifically built for a · 56 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 57 ·

Roadmap 2050

single purpose or a given research field. The breadth and depth of the research will develop according to the more different subjects to be studied and the progress of the experimental methods. For all synchrotron radiation light sources in the world, efforts are made to improve their performances continuously. The target as a whole is to increase the reliability, the beam stability, the brightness and the integrated current during their operation. In order to make the most of the light sources and reach the design goal, small scale upgrading will never end, including the construction of more beamlines, the updating of experimental instruments and the enhancement of the functions of existing facilities. For great improvement of the light sources, such as the big decrease of beam emittance, a large-scale and costly upgrading is always required, including the replacement of hardware components and magnets of the accelerator complex. Many accelerator laboratories in the world always come up with the design schemes of new and more advanced light sources or upgrading schemes of the existing light sources in order to maintain their traditional scientific advantages and lead the developmental trend in this regard in the world. In the next decades, the distribution of synchrotron radiation light sources in the world tends to be popularized and rationalized with a total number of 50 to 55 large advanced light sources in operation. Most of them will continue to play their due roles for a considerable long period of time. The third generation synchrotron radiation facilities and those close to the third generation synchrotron radiation facilities will account for more than half of the light sources in operation. At the same time, a new generation light sources will be explored in various ways. Now, X-ray FELs have become the main direction of the fourth generation light sources. After several years, a number of FELs working at short wavelength will emerge in the world just as the third generation of light sources did about 10 years ago. In addition to FELs, diffraction limit storage ring-based light sources with extremely small beam emittance (less than 1/4π of the wavelength) and IR/THz coherent light sources characterized by a bunch length smaller or comparable to the emitted wavelength are also good candidates of the next generation of extremely coherent light sources. The Duke Free Electron Laser Laboratory, USA now operates a storage ring based free electron laser light source called High Intensity Gammaray Source (HIγS), which takes advantage of the Compton back-scattering mechanism between the electron beam in a storage ring and the free-electron laser beam to produce high intensity γ-ray. It is now being upgraded. This suggests a new direction in the exploration of new light sources. The practice in many years shows that the continuous progress of synchrotron radiation research depends on the self-development and mutual promotion of three links, namely instrumentation, method and application (IMA). Instrument is the first link. Only when high-quality light sources are

Roadmap 2050

combined with advanced experimental methods and innovative applications, can first-class scientific results be produced. The international synchrotron radiation community attaches great importance to the development and innovation of experimental techniques and methods, including high precision optics working with high heat load, low noise and fast detectors, development and integration of new types of optical elements and electronics components, integration of extreme conditions and synchrotron radiation probes, experimental systems of high energy resolution, spatial resolution, time resolution, etc. In recent years, the levels of experimental methods have been greatly improved. In addition, it has become an important trend that different techniques are combined and such combinations are synchronized with the development of the light sources and methods.

2. Current Status of Synchrotron Radiation Facilities and Their Development Trend in China Current Status Large advanced light sources are an integral part of the infrastructure for science and technology in China, and they are also the base for cultivating scientific and technological personnel. They have greatly contributed to the advancement of China’s science and technology. Now, China has three generations of light sources. The wave bands and regional distribution are rational in the main. (1) Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC 2.5 GeV) The 2.5 GeV Beijing Electron Positron Collider was built in the early 1990’s and operated as the first generation X-ray light source (known as BSRF) in parasitic mode. In 2009, its major upgrade was accomplished. Now it operates at higher energy and current for synchrotron radiation users. (2) Hefei Light Source (HLS) (0.8 GeV) of National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) of University of Science and Technology of China. Hefei Light Source belongs to the second generation of vacuum ultraviolet light sources. The first stage construction was completed in 1991. Following the Phase II reconstruction completed in 2004, its performance in terms of utilization efficiency and orbital stability has been dramatically improved. It is now a stable VUV and soft X-ray light source with an extended and efficient operation. (3) Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) It is a medium energy (3.5 GeV) third generation X-ray light source optimized for an intermediate energy domain whose operation started in 2009. It has an important position in the world after the completion and acceptance of the first-phased beamlines and experimental stations. The construction of the second-phased beamlines and experimental stations is being planned. The energy of SSRF ranks fourth in the world (next to Spring-8 in Japan, APS in · 58 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Development Trend in the Future In the 21st century, science will enter the era of quantum control. In order to reveal the essence of various natural phenomena and possibly the origin of life and improve the capacity to control macroscopic and microscopic substances, it requires that X-ray light source be used to study the atomic structures of materials and high-performance vacuum ultraviolet light source be used to study the electronic structures of materials associated with function and nature. X-ray light source is mainly used for high-precision measurement of atomic structure. It is also a powerful tool to identify the relationship between atomic structure and function and to characterize the material composition. X-ray light source can be used to carry out many unique researches, such as the reconstruction of the three-dimensional structure of a protein, the accurate reconstruction of atomic positions inside a complex material and/or the identification of important magnetic structure parameters. VUV light source is mainly used to investigate and control the state and change of valence electrons and to measure the structure and the valence state electrons which play a pivotal role in material structure and in the understanding of functional, physical and/or chemical change. It is indeed very important to understand how the electronic structure, spin and chemical kinetics determine the properties of materials. For instance, VUV light sources 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 59 ·

Roadmap 2050

USA and ESRF in Europe). It is one of the best intermediate energy light sources currently available among those under construction or being designed in the world. The completed BSRF and NSRL have provided beams with the spectrum ranging from infrared, vacuum ultraviolet, soft X-ray to hard X-ray region to scientists from nearly a hundred research institutions and universities in China as well as to many overseas user teams from USA, Japan, Germany, Russia, France, Italy, etc., with some innovative results obtained. With the completion of the 3.5 GeV SSRF in Shanghai, the normal operation of BSRF at higher electron energy and current (from 2.2 to 2.5 GeV and from 100 to 250 mA) after the major upgrade of BEPC and the stable operation of HLS (0.8 GeV) in Hefei following its phase II upgrade, the three light sources will create a situation in which they stand like the legs of a tripod, display their own advantages and complement each other, and their researchers and users support each other and share the available resources. It is encouraging that China’s research on synchrotron radiation is entering a new stage of vigorous development. The short wavelength FEL, the SDUV-FEL project proposed by the above three institutions is now under construction in Jiading District, Shanghai. The goal is to build an HGHG-type deep UV FEL device (at the wavelength of 88 nm) based on a linear accelerator with the conventional technology. The Chinese Academy of Sciences is planning also to construct a soft X-ray FEL at the wavelength of about 9 nm (or shorter). It is also the pre-research project of a hard X-ray FEL facility.

Roadmap 2050

are optimized to investigate the electronic structure and the properties of superconducting and magnetic materials. Moreover, the use of VUV light sources has greatly promoted the research on the “water window” cell CT. Five big future challenges were put forward in the scientific research report released in December 2007 by the U.S. Department of Energy: t
Control materials processes at the level of electrons; t
Design and perfect atom- and energy-efficient syntheses of revolutionary new forms of matter with tailored properties; t
Control the remarkable properties of matter emerging from the complex correlations of atomic or electronic constituents; t
Master energy and information on the nanoscale to create new technologies with capabilities rivaling those of living things; t
Characterize and control matter away—especially very far away— from equilibrium. Science is in a period of transition from the observation of materials to the manipulation and control of materials and energy. In order to meet the above-mentioned challenges, it is badly needed to construct advanced X-ray and VUV light sources. In making the development plan of China’s large advanced light sources for the future, efforts should be made in the following aspects in order to improve the overall level of China’s synchrotron radiation research, suggestions for feasible development be made in the order of priorities and the efforts of all sides be coordinated so as to promote the output of first-rate scientific results. t
Scientifically foresee the rapidly increasing demand of advanced light sources by the scientific, social and economic development in China and make forward-looking arrangements of the new light sources to be constructed; t
Make rational arrangements of light sources to be constructed from the angle of extension of the energy region and perfection of the geographical distribution of the light sources; t
Keep tracking of the international advancements and by integrating them with our own characteristics, develop new high-performance insertion devices to promote the development and innovation of experimental methods; t
Make corresponding strategic arrangements in developing user teams and selecting the major application topics; t
Explore more scientific and normative management mode and maintain closer international cooperation.

3. Development Road Map of Large Advanced Light Source According to the economic and scientific development plan and the foreseen long-term development trend, we shall define the development strategy for constructing large light sources in different stages from tracking, pursuing, surpassing to leading the advanced light sources in the world. The road map · 60 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

4. Specific Facilities within Road Map for Future Development (1) Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility The design specifications of SSRF are set for a third generation synchrotron radiation facility of intermediate energy with world advanced performance. This project was completed in April 2009. According to the test by domestic experts and the review by international experts, the performance of SSRF has reached world-class level. From May 2009, the first seven beamlines were open to users. Serving as a multi-disciplinary platform, SSRF is an irreplaceable important tool for frontier basic research of many subjects, such as life sciences, materials science, environmental science, information science, condensed matter physics, atomic and molecular physics, cluster physics, chemistry, medical science, pharmacy, geognosy, etc. and also for the development and application of high technologies involving micro-electronics, medicine, petroleum, chemical industry, biological engineering, medical diagnosis, micromachining , etc. From international experience, the life span of a synchrotron radiation facility is usually 30 years. Beamline construction usually keeps to a pattern like this: the beamlines built during the first phase account for 10%–15% of the maximum potential capacity. During the 10 years from operation, the entire 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 61 ·

Roadmap 2050

from now to 2050 will be determined based on the construction of specific light sources. If BSRF and NSRL represent the first stage of tracking the world advanced light sources in the 1990’s, the construction of SSRF then represents China’s pursuance of the world advanced light source in the 2010’s. The construction of a fourth generation light source in the future should indicate that China reaches the world advanced level in the 2020’s or 2030’s. In 2050, our country should stand at the forefront in the world in terms of the concept, design and construction of large advanced light source. Therefore, the road map for the development of large light sources in the future is outlined as follows: Around 2015, the second-phased project of SSRF will be completed to further narrow the gap between our country and the advanced countries. In 2020, the advanced light sources in Beijing and Hefei will be completed; therefore, this will enable China to stand at the forefront in the world as synchrotron radiation light sources with the highest brightness. Meanwhile, a soft X-ray free-electron laser will be completed and the pre-research on key technologies for ERL and XFEL accomplished. In 2030, the world most advanced ERL and XFEL will be completed in China. And at the same time, studies on scientific principles and key technologies will be actively carried out for new types of advanced light sources, such as laser-plasma light source, laser-dielectric structure light source, etc. In 2050, China will lead the development of large advanced light sources in the world in terms of the study of principle, the development of technologies and the construction.

Roadmap 2050

number of beamlines is permitted to account for 80%–90% of the capacity. In the next 20 years, upgrading and transformation of the built beamlines will be the main target. Such a pattern not only satisfies the growing changeable demands from users, but also integrates the development of the facility and different disciplines, the high-tech research and the obtainment of national goals closely, which at last will promote the sustainable development of light sources. No less than 64 beamlines and over one hundred experimental stations can be built at SSRF. The first 7 beamlines built account for 11% of the total beamlines that can be built. Taking the domestic condition into account, the life span of SSRF is set at 30–50 years. The overall development goal of SSRF is to build and perfect a multi-disciplinary platform of scientific research on life sciences, materials science, resource and environment, medicine, human health, etc. and constitute a world-class Shanghai center of photon science with the XFEL light source which is under development. The follow-up construction of SSRF constitutes a major part of the Shanghai center of photon science major object. The specific plan contains the following two stages: The first stage (2010–2024) The main task is to build new beamlines. The exact number of new beamlines to be constructed will be decided according to the development of sciences and technology and the actual requirement of users in China. According to the requirements of new beamlines to be constructed from the first users of SSRF, it is estimated that the total number is around 50–60. The specific plan of the first stage (new beamline construction stage) is as follows: From 2011 to 2015, about 24 public beamlines will be built for the second phased project of SSRF. From 2018 to 2024, about 18 beamlines will be built for the third phased project of SSRF. From 2010 to 2024, about 15 beamlines will be built for specific users. The object of the second phased project of SSRT is to build 24 public beamlines with a rational distribution scientifically and methodologically. The 24 beamlines will basically cover the entire experimental methods and application fields. The construction program of the second phased project will consider comprehensively the various requirements of scientific research in China, the full coverage of synchrotron radiation spectrum and methodology, and the latest progress in synchrotron science (dramatic improvement in the resolution of time (to nano scale), space (to 10 nanos scale) and energy (to micro eV), and a full display of characteristics such as high luminosity, low divergence, high coherence, etc. According to plan, 24 beamlines will be built, whose details will finally be decided after an in-depth discussion with users. Auxiliary laboratories supporting users’ off-line preparation experiments and laboratories associated with the study of beamline techniques and experimental · 62 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

The second stage (2025–2050) The main task of this stage is the upgrading of beamline stations that have been in operation for many years. It will be implemented in 5 phases. Each one will last 5 years in order to upgrade 20% of the operational beamline stations. It will take 25 years to upgrade all of them. (2) The Advanced Vacuum Ultraviolet Light Source in Hefei In the 21st century, science will enter the age of quantum control from traditional observation of materials. The advanced vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light source is an essential tool to explore and control the electronic structure and quantum state. The Hefei light source belongs to the second generation light sources and operates at low and intermediate energy. It supports the applications in soft X-ray and vacuum ultraviolet domains, and suits to extend to the infrared and far-infrared energy regions. However, due to its large beam emittance and low brightness, it has a large gap when compared with many advanced vacuum ultraviolet light sources in the world and cannot meet the demand of future scientific development and big challenges. Therefore, viewed from the scientific needs and the outlined long-term development, the deficiency in our development is the lack of a high brightness vacuum ultraviolet light source. Therefore, it is proposed that pre-research on key technologies concerning the Hefei Advanced Vacuum Ultraviolet Light Source (HALS) be carried out around 2012 so that HALS could be completed around 2020. Synchrotron radiation from HALS, either in the vacuum ultraviolet or in the “water window” soft X-ray energy region (the protein absorption within this energy region is 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than water) can satisfy the diffraction limit condition. A diffraction limited beam means that the radiation contained in the beam is associated with the minimum possible beam divergence at each wavelength. The beam is completely coherent transversely. The light source is characterized by high brightness, low emittance and extremely high resolution in terms of time, space, energy and momentum. Since the Hefei advanced light source approximates a laser light source within the same wave band in terms of coherence and brightness, furthermore, its wavelength is tunable and it can be coupled with a laser light source to become 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 63 ·

Roadmap 2050

methods will be established during the second phased construction. The construction of user beamlines is usually based on enterprises’ research programs or special research programs which have certain particular scientific goals and requirements. According to the similar conditions in other countries and the development plan of China’s science and technology, economy and society, it is estimated that five user beamlines will be built in 15 years. The scientific requirement of the third phased construction is consistent with that of the second phased upgrade, just to satisfy the latest scientific development and users’ requirements. Approximately 18 public beamlines will be built for the third phased project of SSRF.

Roadmap 2050

a unique ideal platform to explore and control materials and energy. The main item of the Hefei advanced light source is a 1.5 GeV electron storage ring with a circumference of 396 m, a characteristic radiation wavelength of 1.66 nm from the bending magnets and a horizontal beam emittance of ~0.2 nm·rad. Fourteen insertion devices can be installed. In the large vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-ray energy range, the Hefei light source leads the world in terms of brightness and transverse coherence. The Hefei advanced light source will perform many experimental techniques with fs time resolution, nanometer space resolution, sub-meV energy resolution, ultra-low concentration detection, and coherent diffraction imaging. It will be useful to control materials formation process at the electronic level and control the complex interaction between electrons. (3) Beijing Advanced Light Source The new constructed Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) will provide a powerful support to the development of future science and technology of China. Meanwhile, NSRL and BSRF will play a role in a certain period. But limited by their performances and support capabilities, the gap between the facilities and the demands will increasingly widen. Considering the overall performance and support capabilities, the three synchrotron radiation facilities can hardly meet the growing demand of the development of China’s science and technology. On the other hand, they belong to the intermediate and low energy synchrotron radiation facilities and can only provide limited high energy X-ray. Thus this will seriously influence the characterization of dynamic micro structures of the engineering materials, the study of the effect of rare earth elements, and the research on relevant materials involving national security in the future. Therefore the construction of the new quasi fourth generation synchrotron radiation facilities should be deployed in time. The energy region should be considered first when constructing the new synchrotron radiation facilities in order to obtain high-performance and high-energy synchrotron radiation X-ray. As is known to all, Beijing region is an important scientific and technological center of China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, ministries and commissions of the state and a number of research institutes located there. BSRF has a unique user resource advantage, as there are many users in Beijing region. From the layout of large multidisciplinary scientific platforms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, SSRF and NSRL have been completed in the Yangtse River Delta, the spallation neutron source will be built in the Pearl River Delta, and BSRF has been constructed in China’s northern region. NSRL and SSRF are the second generation and the advanced third generation of special synchrotron radiation facilities respectively. Spallation neutron source is an advanced neutron source facility whereas BSRF is a comprehensive synchrotron radiation facility. Compared with the other synchrotron radiation facilities, BSRF is the weakest. This is disproportional to the status quo of the technological development in this region. Therefore · 64 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

(4) Energy Recovery Linac The Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) characterized by high brightness, best coherence and ultra-short pulse is the 4th generation synchrotron radiation facility which is being designed and studied in the world. Now several ERL experimental facilities have been completed and the principle of operation has been verified. The 5 GeV Beijing Advanced Light Source will be further developed by building a SC energy recovery linear accelerator and upgrading it to an energy recovery linac (ERL) by combining with the 5 GeV storage ring so that the facility can have further enhanced performances like emittance and brightness, better coherence and ultra-short pulse, and realize “one machine for two or multiple-purpose use” as soon as possible. The upgraded Beijing Light Source keeps the excellent electron beam (strong current, small emittance, small energy divergence and ultra-short beam) provided by the linear accelerator, and also has high efficiency for the synchrotron radiation facility to be used by large numbers of users at the same time; it can generate super-high average brightness X-ray (>5×1022, photon energy can reach up to 10 keV); it can obtain very small facula size (3μm r.m.s.) and highstrength short-pulse X-ray (100 fs–1ps); the arc section adopts multiple TBA focusing structure, thus providing several long linear sections, with each ac5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 65 ·

Roadmap 2050

the construction of an advanced radiation facility in Beijing in the coming 10–15 years should be set as a key goal in developing China’s large scientific facilities. The proposed Beijing new light source has the following significant scientific meanings: t
Extending the energy region of synchrotron radiation facility of China and providing high-performance, high-energy X-ray; t
Optimizing regional distribution and further satisfying the increasing demands of users in China, especially in the northern region; t
Reaching the world most advanced level in performance and enhancing China’s competitiveness in technology; t
Constructing the 4th generation synchrotron radiation facilities with higher performance, higher brightness, better coherence and ultrashort pulse for the future. According to China’s national strength and large numbers of users, a new synchrotron radiation facility to be constructed in Beijing before 2020 is a 5 GeV high-performance advanced synchrotron radiation light source in order to satisfy the demands of users in the northern region and fill in the blank of highenergy X-ray wave band of synchrotron radiation facility in China. The main technical specifications of Beijing Advanced Light Source are as follows: the energy of electron beam is 5 GeV, the horizontal emittance is less than 1 nm×rad, the intensity of current is 300 mA and the brightness exceeds 1021 photons/ s/0.1%BW/mm2/mrad2. The guideline for building beamlines is to satisfy the demand of China’s basic science and high-tech research in 2020 and realize their support in this regard from higher starting points.

Roadmap 2050

commodating the approximately 25m long undulators so that high quality X-rays can be obtained for many users to use at the same time. Many key physical and technological problems of ERL are still under study in the world, for instance, latitudinal and longitudinal match, non-linear effect, emittance increase, coherence synchrotron effect, effect of high order mode and beam collapse of superconducting (SC) RF cavity caused by strong beam current and other physical problems and photocathode electron gun, high average power injector, continuous wave (CW) SC linear accelerator and other technological problems. China should arrange relevant work as early as possible, including design study and computer simulation, and research on key technologies and preparation of key facilities in order to stand in the front rank in the world in ERL development. (5) XFEL Facility X-ray is the ideal probe to reveal matter structure and life phenomena at the atomic/molecular scale. Human beings have created many Nobel science prize winners with natural or artificial X-ray light sources, thereby greatly boosting the advancement of material and spiritual civilization. The development and construction of XFEL facilities with long-term stable operation known as the fourth generation synchrotron radiation facilities have become a technological “highland” which many technologically strong powers are competing for in the world today. The study report of the national scientific and technological middle and long-term strategic development plan clearly points out, “we should immediately make and carry out step by step the overall development plan for free electron laser system starting from DUV to X-ray”. In comparison with the third generation synchrotron radiation facilities, such X-ray free electron laser facilities being designed and constructed in the world have the following advantages: Higher brightness. Its peak brightness is 8–10 orders of magnitude (the average brightness is 1–4 orders of magnitude higher than the third generation synchrotron radiate facilities) higher than the third generation synchrotron radiation facilities; Shorter pulse. Its width of X-ray single pulse can be narrow to hundreds or even tens of femtosecond, 2–4 orders of magnitude shorter than the X-ray pulse of the third generation radiation facilities; Better coherence. Latitudinal coherence (SASE) or latitudinal + longitudinal coherence (HGHG). In the middle of April 2009, the first hard X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) in the world—America’s LCLS (Linac Coherent Light Source) successfully lased with the design wavelength (1.5 Å or 0.15 nanometer). The other two hard XFEL facilities (Japan’s SCSS and Europe’s Euro XFEL) are planned to lase in 2011 and 2014 respectively. The successful lasing of LCLS proves that XFEL is a feasible technological approach to realize the fourth generation radiation facilities. · 66 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2010–2015 t
Complete the construction of a soft XFEL experimental facility. The main goal is to make breakthroughs in key working mode exploration (HGHG and other new principles) and R&D of relevant advanced technologies and duly apply them in user facilities. t
Complete the construction of a free electron laser experimental facility based on ERL, and carry out R&D of the injector and SC linear accelerator technologies necessary for ERL. 2015–2020 t
Complete the construction of hard XFEL facility (adopting normal temperature linear accelerator and relevant technologies and the energy of electron beam is approx 6–8 GeV) of China and provide an 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 67 ·

Roadmap 2050

In order to satisfy the demands of high-end scientific users in the 21st century, XFEL is rapidly developing in the following directions: complete control of time structure and longitudinal coherence, tune of central wavelength with high peak brightness and high average brightness, and high average power. In order to realize the above goal, no matter whether in the completion and innovation of working mode (SASE, HGHG, etc.) or in the improvement of and breakthrough in relevant key technologies (SC linear accelerator technology, energy recovery linear accelerator technology, etc.), all countries in the world are competing to deploy and accelerate the development of XFEL. In working mode, a key missing ability of the first group of the fourth generation synchrotron radiation facilities, namely, the free electron laser facilities adopting the principle of SASE is longitudinal coherence and pulse control that can be realized with advanced seeding techniques and only in this way, can the scientific influence of further short-pulse X-ray source be maximized in the future. HGHG working mode originates from the coherent harmonic radiation caused by the interaction of seeding laser and electron beam and magnified by the index. Therefore its working wavelength is the integral frequency of the seeding laser, with the prominent advantages like stable working wavelength, narrow band width, stable output power and easy obtainment of good time coherence. Currently this mode has aroused more and more attention, and breakthroughs have been made in related technologies in just a few years. According to the latest international development trend mentioned above and the actual conditions in China, the development of China’s XFEL in terms of working mode will focus on the exploration of HGHG and other new principles with great potential, and on the taking of SASE. For the development of key accelerator technologies, we plan to begin with the development of technologies for normal temperature linear accelerators with good foundation at home and less investment. Meanwhile, we shall actively carry out R&D of SC accelerator and energy recovery linear accelerator technologies. To this end, the following development plan is proposed:

Roadmap 2050

internationally first-class photon scientific experiment platform. t
Develop new principles and new technologies about XFEL based on the seeding laser. t
Complete the construction of high average power free electronic laser application facilities and carry out multiple application researches. Continue R & D of SC high frequency and relevant technologies. 2020–2030 t
Construct a soft X-ray and hard XFEL user facility based on long pulse SC linear accelerator and provide the most advanced experimental means in terms of peak value and average power. t
Construct an ERL X-ray radiation facility based on intermediate energy CW SC accelerator (~5 GeV) and implement the combination of diffraction limit synchrotron radiation facility based on the storage ring so as to lay a foundation for CW FEL in the next stage. 2030–2050 t
Construct an oscillator-type XFEL facility (XFELO) of intermediate energy electron beam based on ERL. t
Construct comprehensive research facilities in combination with the above radiation facilities. t
Construct other new types of synchrotron radiation facilities adopting new principles and new technologies. According to the historical development of synchrotron radiation facilities, it can be deduced that with the rapid development of new principles and new technologies, it is very possible for the emergence of upgraded newtype X-ray synchrotron radiation facilities and free electron laser facilities. Therefore great efforts should be made to intensify the research on new principles and technologies of synchrotron radiation facilities. According to the national strength and demand, we should try to propose and build new synchrotron radiation facilities and free electron laser facilities with independent innovative ideas and principles in this field.

5.2 Advanced Neutron Source 1. Global Picture and Development Trends Neutron and photon are powerful material probes that complement each other in detecting microscopic structures and atom movements. Neutron beam, when incident on an object, will interact with the nucleus or magnetic moment to be scattered out at different energies and momentums. The static and dynamic structural information of the material is obtained from measuring these changes. This is the so-called neutron scattering method. First, the neutron · 68 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 69 ·

Roadmap 2050

wavelength used extends from a few to tens of angstroms, or MeV to eV energy range, which is optimal for measuring microscopic structure. Then, the energy of thermal neutron is comparable to excitation energy in dynamic processes. So it is a good probe to study dynamic processes, such as vibration or rotation of molecules, biologic macromolecules, even the folding action of protein. Neutron scattering method is applicable to materials containing plenty of light element atoms such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. In addition, neutron has an intrinsic magnetic moment that interacts with nucleus directly. This is very useful in studying magnetic functional material and superconducting material. Moreover, with no electric charge, neutron has large penetrating power, samples can be studied under a variety of extreme conditions (such as high temperature, low temperature, high voltage, high field, etc.) and non-destructive testing of large engineering components can be conducted. This property is widely used in many fields and makes neutron scattering an ideal probe in detecting material structure and atom dynamic features. The development of neutron scattering method calls for high neutron flux. Since 1932 when neutron was discovered, the neutron source with ever higher flux has always been what scientists strive for. Two kinds of high flux neutron sources exist nowadays: nuclear reactor and spallation source. Both of them have unique characteristics and complement each other in applications. Nuclear reactor, as a stable and continuous neutron source, plays a huge role in neutron application. 235U is commonly used as the reactor fuel and will yield one neutron in every fission process. 180 MeV of thermo energy will be released at the same time which is transferred out promptly to ensure stable operation. In the 1960’s or 1970’s, this kind of neutron source has reached technology plateau due to core cooling restriction. At present, the globally recognized highest flux reactor neutron source is ILL(Grenoble), with flux 1.5×1015 cm2s1. Reactor source will continue to play an important role in the future. With the advancement of science and technology, a variety of materials become research subjects, such as films, nano-clusters, biologic macromolecules and proteins. Materials like these have broader range of particle distribution and are more difficult to obtain in gram amount. Rapid neutron scattering measurement with high-resolution for small samples is in urgent need, and as a result, spallation neutron source emerges. High-energy protons from accelerator bombard heavy metal target to produce neutrons. Every proton can eventually produce 20 to 40 neutrons after complicated cascaded inner-nuclei and internuclei reactions. However, the heat produced is just one quarter of that for nuclear reactor source (about 45 MeV). Compared with reactor source, high flux pulsed spallation source has turned neutron into an even more powerful probe. Now, it has broken the ceiling of the reactor source in flux and is advancing rapidly. It does not use nuclear fuel, produces little radioactive nuclear wastes and has nothing to do with criticality problems. For these reasons, spallation source is well recognized as the

Roadmap 2050

new generation of safe and efficient neutron source. Spallation neutron source can provide neutrons in higher flux and utilization efficiency. Since we entered the 21st century, the developed countries like the United States, Japan and the European countries have begun to realize the importance of spallation neutron source in modern science and technology and put forward proposals for MW scale sources. The effective flux of these sources can be hundreds of times higher than the reactor sources. The high-flux pulsed neutrons from CSNS will compliment cw neutrons from nuclear reactors and synchrotron beam from synchrotron radiation facilities in studying material structure. In studying microscopic dynamic processes, neutron scattering has unique and irreplaceable capability. It is generally accepted in scientific community that neutron scattering has and will continue to exert fundamental and far-reaching influence on frontier basic research and high-tech development in physics, chemistry, life sciences, materials science, biology, nano-science, medicine, national defense scientific research, industrial applications, new energy development and other important fields. In addition, high intensity proton accelerators can be used for various purposes and become multidisciplinary platforms for various fields. In the United States, six national laboratories made joint efforts in constructing the first 1.4 MW spallation neutron source with 1.4 billion U.S. dollars. The designed neutron flux is as high as 10 17 cm 2s 1. After more than seven years’ construction, the first neutron beam was produced in April 2006. At present, the beam power is gradually increased and the spectrometer construction is also in progress. In Japan, the high current proton accelerator J-PARC has been completed and the beam commissioning is underway. The project with an investment of 18 billion US dollars was constructed by Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and High Energy Accelerator Research Organization. A 3 GeV RCS providing 1 MW proton beam serves as the driver of the source. In Phase II, the beam power will reach 5 MW and the corresponding neutron flux will exceed SNS. In UK, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is upgrading the original proton accelerator of ISIS. After the upgrading, the current of proton beam will be increased to 250 μA. The second target station was completed in 2008 with 10 pulses taken out of 50 pulses every second. The beam power is 48 kW and the average beam current is 60μA, and the cold neutron flux reaches as high as 1.0×1011 cm2s1 because of its special moderator design. This source will be particularly suitable for nano-technology-related studies such as nano-materials, life sciences, etc.

· 70 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Roadmap 2050 Fig. 5.1 The ISIS spallation neutron source at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK

The European Spallation Source (ESS) with the world highest beam power of 5 MW proposed by 18 research institutes in eleven European countries is planned to finish in 8 years. The estimated cost is about 1.5 billion Euros. The design and siting started in 1993, and Lund has been finalized to be the site of ESS. For an overall planning of the future development of European neutron science, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) has developed a medium and long-term neutron science developing strategy. In the strategy, the already existing ISIS, the upgrading of ILL reactor and the construction of ESS were taken into consideration. Additionally, South Korea and India have also drafted their spallation neutron source development plans and started the preliminary designs and R&D of key technologies.

2. Current Status in China In China, the development of neutron scattering technologies began in the early 1980’s. The first experimental heavy water reactor built in 1958 laid a solid foundation for the development of nuclear power and neutron scattering technologies. With the joint efforts of China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP, CAS), etc., the first neutron scattering experiment base—Neutron Scattering Laboratory was built besides the heavy water research reactor at CIAE. The laboratory operates 6 scattering spectrometers and has made a number of innovative achievements in condensed matter physics, materials science, etc. Besides that, more than 300 papers were completed and a number of national natural science awards and scientific and technological progress awards at the ministerial level have been granted. In recent years, important discoveries have been made in circular polarization in the phonon dispersion relation, the oxygen atom position in high-temperature superconducting materials, the magnetic structure of rare-earth permanent magnetic materials and so on. The excellent work has cultivated Chinese talents for 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 71 ·

Roadmap 2050

today’s neutron scattering technologies and won a place in the world. The China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) at CIAE for neutron scattering technology reached critical operation in the fall of 2009. The total investment is 0.77 billion Chinese yuan. The power of the source is 60 MW and the thermal neutron flux reaches 81014 cm2s1 which makes it one of the three most powerful sources (ILL, France and FRMII, Germany are two of them). Nine scattering spectrometers, 1800 square-meter cold neutron guide hall and 3000 square-meter user building are being built around CARR in Phase I and the source is planned to open to users in 2009. All of these have provided the condition for China to catch up with the developed countries in neutron scattering field. In the 21st century, China’s scientific research develops rapidly. More and more researchers wish to use neutron scattering to deepen their researches. Yet, as a result of the relatively backward technologies and lack of scattering facilities, many scientists turned to international collaboration for research opportunities, such as inorganic solid chemistry and materials chemistry research at Beijing University, material engineering and stress studies at Northeastern University, hydrogen energy material study at Fudan University, fuel micro-structure study at CIAE, magnetic refrigeration, rare earth alloy, high temperature superconductivity research at the Institute of Physics, CAS, and polymer synthesis and morphological studies at the Institute of Chemistry. In order to adapt to the scientific research development and enhance our original innovation capability in basic science, the early construction of our own spallation neutron source and related scattering national laboratories brooks no delay.

3. Chinese Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) Project The National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC) approved the project of CSNS in September 2008. The construction of the project is expected to start in Guangdong Province in 2010. It will be completed in 7 years’ time. CSNS will be the first spallation neutron source in developing countries as well as for China. As one of the new generation of spallation sources, the design power is 100 kW, the pulse neutron flux is 2×1016 /cm2/s and the pulse repetition frequency is 25 Hz. Its main performance index ranks among the world leading sources and meets the need of the majority of neutron scattering-related experiments. CSNS and Chinese Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) which is near completion complement each other and both of them will provide full service for innovative research. However, we should see that there is still a gap compared with the completed MW-level spallation neutron sources in the United States and Japan. Now, the conceptual design of CSNS has been completed and the R&D is being carried out. The whole project is expected to start in the near future. The accelerator complex of CSNS consists of an 80 MeV H linac, a 1.6 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron, two transport lines, one target station, three spectrometers and related facilities. The H− beam is first produced from the ion source and · 72 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

80/130MeV(Iave!" DTL Linac

50keV 3 MeV RFQ H LS. I!$ # H

MEBT

RFQ

DTL

324MHz

324MHz

LRBT

LEBT

RCS 1.6 GeV, 25Hz  Instruments

Target

PB=120/240kW RTBT

Fig. 5.2 Schematics of CSNS Facilities

As a user facility, CSNS will provide an advanced scientific platform for basic and high-tech research. China has a solid foundation in the fields like condensed matter physics, chemistry, materials, biological science, polymer, soft material, earth science, mechanical processing industry, nuclear physics and medical applications. Scientists in these fields are the most promising users of CSNS. Users will gradually reorganize the advantages of the spallation neutron source and neutron scattering methods, and as a result, the user community will be gradually widened. Since the 1950’s, the applications of neutron scattering have increased several times in every ten years. ISIS, for example, has more than 1500 users now compared with about 300 in 1986 when it was first commissioned. The users of ISIS come from Italy, the United States, Germany, Japan, France, the Netherlands, Australia, Sweden, Spain and other countries as well as domestic universities and institutes. ISIS has become a user-centered interna5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 73 ·

Roadmap 2050

then bunched and accelerated through the Radio Frequency Quadruple linac (RFQ). The beam from RFQ is matched to the Drift Tube Linac (DTL) and accelerated to 80 MeV, and then the H− beam is stripped of the electrons and injected by phase-space painting into the rapid-cycling synchrotron (RCS) ring with the energy of 1.6GeV. The 1.6 GeV high energy proton beam goes through the transport line, bombards the tungsten target and then spallation reaction occurs. A lot of neutrons are produced, moderated and guided to the spectrometers through neutron guide tube for users to study the static and dynamic structures of the materials. The beam power reaches 100 kW and the effective neutron flux is 2×1016 cm2s1 at 25Hz repetition rate. The design scheme of CSNS has drawn on the latest achievements of science and technology in other countries. The technical specifications have international advanced level. It will surely have an important place in the world.

Roadmap 2050

tional multidisciplinary platform.

4. Development and Upgrading of CSNS The scientific life of CSNS exceeds 30 years. To maintain its advanced position over a long period of time and to meet the growing research and application needs of multi-disciplinary users, the facility should be designed with enough space to upgrade and with minimum investment for upgrading in Phase I. The target station of CSNS has 18 neutron beam ports and 3 spectrometers in Phase I. The linac energy will be upgraded to 132 MeV with the beam power at 200 kW. Besides, 15 other spectrometers will be added which will result in a great increase of neutron applications. What is mentioned above will enhance the user’s research level which in turn, will attract more potential users. By then, CSNS will be an active, open and user-centered multi-disciplinary research platform. Phase II is planned to start in 2017 in which the linac construction will take 3 years and that of spectrometer 5 years as projected. The number of spectrometers will increase according to the growing requirement of users. Ten spectrometers will be funded by the government and the other five designed in accordance with the special needs of the users (users are responsible for half the construction cost, the state invests the other half), and will be jointly managed by users and the government. The beam energy will be upgraded to 500 kW in Phase III to meet higher and broader need of the users. To this end, the linac energy will be increased to 250 MeV and the second target station will be built. RF superconducting technology will be used to improve the accelerating gradient so as to make full use of the reserved tunnel length. The second target is for muons and fast neutrons. Three quarters of the beam will be guided to the first target station to provide high flux neutrons while the other quarter for the second station. The muon beam has the highest current intensity only next to J-PARC and will certainly play an important role in the cutting-edge research of materials science, geological science, nuclear fusion research, nuclear astrophysics, etc. The fast neutrons from the second station will provide irreplaceable means for nuclear physics and accelerator-driven nuclear energy systems. The third phase is expected to start in 2024 with a construction period of about four years. Considering the increase in the number of users and scientific research requirements, particularly those of the users in the north, we propose that another spallation neutron source be constructed in the north with 6 MW beam energy in 2030. It consists of a 1.3 GeV full energy linac, an accumulator ring and 40 spectrometers. Long pulse neutrons could be directly provided by the linac and the accumulator generates microsecond level short pulse neutrons. So it can satisfy the requirements for both high pulsed and average neutron flux at the same time. With these features, it will become the world brightest neutron scattering source which can serve both domestic and international high end users. It will help such research fields as functional materials, micro systems, · 74 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

5.3 Experimental Platform of Extreme Physical Conditions 1. Current Status at Home & Abroad and Development Trend Just like many scientific discoveries made in history which have benefited from improved experimental techniques and facilities, now, the development and application of laboratory-generated extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperature, ultra-high pressure, strong magnetic field, ultra-fast and ultraintense laser enable scientists to study many wonderful new phenomena of physical, chemical, biological and materials science. These studies provide scientists with new approaches to understand and solve the key problems in future energy, information and materials science. For example, with the laboratory-generated ultra-low temperatures, which are the lowest and exist nowhere else in the universe, scientists are able to observe and control macroscopic quantum phenomena. Significant progress has been made in this area in the past decades, including the discovery of quantum liquid (the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physics), laser cooling of atoms (the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics), Bose-Einstein condensation of cold atoms (the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics) and the fractional quantum Hall effect (the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics). With the extremely-high energy density generated by ultra-fast and ultra-intense laser, scientists are able to work on future energy problems, relativistic engineering physics, ultra-high gradient particle acceleration and laboratory simulation of supernova explosion, etc. Due to the importance of extreme condition facilities, the United States, Japan and the European countries have exerted enormous efforts to compete with each other. The world famous research institutes in this field include the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Tallahassee, Florida, USA; the Micro-Kelvin Laboratory at Gainesville, Florida, USA; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA; Low Temperature Center and High Magnetic Field Laboratories of Institute Neel at Grenoble, France; Laboratory of Extreme Conditions at Tokyo University, Japan; Laboratory of High Magnetic Field at Northeast University, Japan; NTT Basic Research Laboratories, Japan; Low Temperature Laboratory at Helsinki, Finland; Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK; etc. The development trend and goals in this field over the next few decades 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 75 ·

Roadmap 2050

information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, earth science, transportation technology, sustainable development and national health into worldclass level. Considerable technical difficulties exist at present, but it is closely related to the development of the Accelerator Driven Subcritical System (ADS). Therefore, it can reference ADS in terms of such technologies as superconducting high current proton accelerator and liquid metal target.

Roadmap 2050

can be described as follows: (1) Ultra-low Temperature Facilities for Quantum Control and Development of Prospective Solid State Quantum Devices With the rapid increase of integration degree, classical microelectronics will eventually be replaced by nanoelectronics where the governing rule is quantum mechanism. Scalable solid-state quantum electronic circuits and ultimately, quantum computers will greatly boost our data processing capability and solve difficult problems such as decoding which are impossible to be solved by classical computers. The forefront research of quantum computing will have tremendous impact on the development of science, technology, financing and national security. This has posed not only new opportunities but also challenges to us in the information era. In order to control the quantum states in solid state systems, a long enough quantum decoherence time is needed during the manipulation. Such requirement can only be reached at ultra-low temperatures where thermal fluctuation vanishes. Due to this fact, the European Union (EU) started a MicroKelvin Collaborative Project under the 7th Framework Program of EU in 2009, including 12 laboratories of 8 countries. One of the main purposes of this project is to provide the research capability on quantum electronics at nanoscale. Predictably, this is an area of full competition, in which a large amount of ultralow temperature experimental facilities are needed to take the lead. Quantum control experimental facilities at ultra-low temperature should include dilution refrigerators, nuclear demagnetization refrigerators and corresponding ultra-clean quantum measurement and manipulation systems. As research progresses in the next few decades, the scale of ultra-low temperature facilities will get larger. Meanwhile, the noise level of the measurement and manipulation systems will continuously decrease to ensure the observation of cleaner macroscopic quantum phenomena at even lower electron temperatures. The future goal of ultra-low temperature quantum control experimental facility is to provide research capabilities in the following areas: 1) coherent nano-electronics, 2) quantum simulation, 3) quantum computing implemented with superconductor qubits, quantum-dot spin qubits, topological qubits made of two-dimensional electron systems, etc., 4) physical property measurement and manipulation of correlated electron system, etc. (2) Combined High Pressure Experimental Facilities for Future Material Synthesis, Structure and Property analysis As one of the basic physical parameters, pressure plays the same role as temperature and chemical composition in reducing interatomic distance, overlapping adjacent electron orbits, and hence changing the crystal structure as well as the electronic structure, leading to completely new states of matter. These preternatural states of matter obtained at high pressure may have quite different physical and chemical properties. Many novel materials not existing in ambient conditions can be achieved at high pressure. For example, soft graphite will · 76 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

(3) Study on High Energy Density Physics (HEDP), Ultra-fast Science and Future Energy Science. High energy density states under extreme conditions exist in the universe widely. On the earth, such states can be only found in the nuclear explosion. However, recently high energy density states can be created in laboratories due to the rapid development of intense laser technology. Relativistic intense laser driven HEDP has become one of the fastest growing new fields. The peak laser intensity as high as 1022 W/cm2 has been achieved now. Many new physical phenomena which are not accessible before have been produced using such intense laser pulses to interact with plasmas. New ultra-intense laser infrastructures are required to study HEDP under faster, higher, and more extreme conditions. The United States, France, Britain, Japan and other developed countries have started their strategic plans and construction of such large infrastructures. A typical example is the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) of the European Union, which was started in 2007. This infrastructure consists of 8–12 intense laser beams. The peak power and the pulse length of each beam are 25 PW and 15 fs, respectively. A total peak power of 220 PW can be achieved after being integrated (to be finished in 2014 according to schedule). New scientific and interdisciplinary frontiers of HEDP, laser-induced nuclear physics, laboratory astrophysics, future energy science can be studied under the conditions of ultra-intense laser fields higher than 1025 W/m2. Compared with the nanosecond large and picosecond PW laser facilities, this infrastructure is unique due to its high peak power, flexibility, small scale and high shot efficiency (1 minute per shot). Such infrastructure provides new opportunities for the breakthrough of important scientific issues.

5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 77 ·

Roadmap 2050

transform to diamond which is the hardest material in nature, iron will lose its ferromagnetism, oxygen will become superconducting, etc. It has been shown that a substance usually undergoes five or more phase transitions (in average) over the pressure range up to 100 GPa. Water presents more than 10 crystalline phases at high pressure. A number of semiconducting or insulating elements become metallized under high pressure inasmuch as the band gap between the valence and the conductance overlaps. Many new materials and new phenomena are expected under high pressures. Metallic hydrogen, as an example, has been a holly grail in high pressure physics for many years since it was predicted a room temperature superconductor theoretically. High pressure experimental facilities should include a variety of presses and diamond anvil cells, and necessary systems for structure characterization and physical and chemical properties measurement. With the development of experimental techniques, pressure above 100 GPa and temperature up to 5000 K can be realized in laboratory. It will impel a revolutionary development in material science in the next few decades.

Roadmap 2050

Nonlinear QED：c = 2mcc 2 Focused Intensity／（W/cm2）

1030 1 PeV

Ultra-Relativistic Optics

ELI

1025 EQ = mpc2 1020

1 TeV

Relativistic Optics EQ = mec2 1 MeV

Bound electrons 1015 CPA

1 eV

mode locking

1010

Q-switching 1960

1970

1980 1990 Year

2000

2010

Fig. 5.3 Roadmap of ultra-intense lasers

In the next 50 years, the physical conditions will touch new limits. By 2020, the focused laser intensity will reach 1025 W/cm2. The pulse length control will be as short as 10 attoseconds. Particles can be accelerated by the laser to GeV, even TeV energy level. By 2040, the focused laser intensity will reach 1027 W/cm2, and the pulse length control less than 1 attoseconds. By 2060, the intensity will reach 1030 W/cm2, and the pulse length control zeptoseconds. The nonlinear quantum electrodynamics, electron-positron generation in vacuum and other extreme phenomena can be studied with such lasers. New frontiers in the matter science will be established. The extreme intense laser infrastructure will extend the field of lasermatter interaction from the present relativistic regime into the ultra-relativistic regime, and provide access to extremely short pulse durations in the attosecond and zeptosecond regime. With this new and unsurpassed regime of laser intensity, human beings can explore and create new sciences.

2. Roadmap for the Construction of Extreme Conditions Platform The essential part of a large comprehensive extreme conditions platform is the integration of different extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperatures, extremely strong magnetic fields, ultra-high pressures, an ultra-fast and ultra-intense laser. In the future, ultra-fast high-energy particle sources (GeV electron source, GeV ion source, neutron source) and radiation sources (X-ray and THz sources) can also be included in the platform. In addition, a complete set of supporting systems working at extreme conditions are also needed, for example, electrical quantum control system, optical quantum control system, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance system, physical properties characterization system, etc. Such a large comprehensive platform can provide the greatest · 78 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

(1) P latform for Quantum Control at Ultra-low Temperatures This low temperature platform is composed of sub-mK nuclear demagnetization refrigerators, 10 mK-level dilution refrigerators and few hundred mK level Helium-3 refrigerators. Combined with strong magnetic fields up to 20 T, this platform can be used to study numerous interesting and important physical problems. For instance, it can be used to study quantum transport behaviors, coherent electronics and quantum computing in nanoscale devices, topological quantum computing and other novel macroscopic quantum behaviors in high mobility 2D electron gas systems, Fermi surfaces mapping of strongly correlated materials, space and energy resolved scanning tunneling spectroscopy at 10 mK level, infrared spectroscopy and microwave response at ultra-low temperatures, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance at low temperatures, quantum phase transition of heavy Fermion materials, etc. (2) Platform for Material Synthesis under High Pressure and High Temperature, and Platform for Physical Property Study under High Pressure and Low Temperature The platform is composed of two-stage high pressure machines and combined in-situ with high-temperature condition and other types of techniques for structure characterization. It is essential for new material synthesis, and will enable us to explore, for instance, 1) transition-metal compounds with high density and high coordination numbers; 2) light-element compounds with strong covalent bonds; 3) dense quantum systems and 4) crystalline-amorphous transition and other types of non-equilibrium phase transitions. With this platform, one can investigate many fundamental issues such as high pressure ordering-state caused by spin collapse, orbital hybridization, charge transfer, lattice vibration, etc. Diamond anvil cell-type of high pressure and low temperature conditions provides another very powerful platform for the exploration of new phases and phenomena of matter, especially when it is combined in-situ with synchrotron X-ray diffraction, micro Raman, infrared spectroscopy, and electron transport measurement tools. Many new superconductors which are not superconducting 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 79 ·

Roadmap 2050

convenience for many kinds of experiments under the integrated different extreme conditions. With the help of such a platform, scientists should be able to conduct both fundamental and applied researches such as quantum phase transition, solid state quantum computing, quantum spintronics, ultrarelativistic physics, high energy density physics, ultra-fast physical and chemical processes, energy science, synthesis of new materials, etc. It will improve our competitiveness in key areas such as materials science, information technology, national security-related technology, and will provide us with new opportunities and frontiers for scientific research as well in the new century. The proposed large comprehensive extreme conditions platform can be separated into several relatively independent parts. The details of each part are introduced as follows:

Roadmap 2050

at ambient pressure have been found at high pressures and low temperatures. Their transition temperature TC may be dramatically increased under high pressure. A representative sample is HgBa2Cam-1CumO2m+2+d superconductor, whose TC is about 134 K at ambient pressure but increases up to 164 K at high pressure, holding the highest TC record so far in superconductor families. (3) Ultra-fast and Ultra-intense Laser Platform This platform consists of four types of laser facilities with extreme specifications. It will be equipped with several target chambers and diagnostic instruments, and will be able to output multiple beams, in order to cover wide frontiers of scientific researches. A detailed description of the platform is as follows. t
Construction of a 5 PW (200 J/40 fs) laser facility running at single shot mode, with a central wavelength of about 800 nm and a contrast ratio of better than 109, together with the building of a corresponding target chamber and diagnostic systems. t
Construction of a 500 TW (20 J/40 fs) laser facility running at 0.1Hz repeating rate, with a central wavelength of about 800 nm and a contrast ratio of better than 10 9, together with the building of a corresponding target chamber and diagnostic systems. t
Construction of a 100 TW (5 J/50 fs) laser facility running at 0.1 Hz repeating rate, with a central wavelength of about 400 nm and a contrast ratio of better than 109, together with the building of a corresponding target chamber and diagnostic systems. t
Construction of 1 TW (5 mJ/5 fs) laser facility running at 1 kHz repeating rate, with a central wavelength of about 800 nm and a contrast ratio of better than 10 9, and with controllable carrier envelope phase (CEP). The focused laser intensity can reach up to 1018 W/cm2. Building of the platform for attosecond ultra-fast science researches. This laser platform will be used for multi-disciplinary research under ultra-fast and ultra-intense light conditions, such as HEDP, “fast ignition” laser fusion, table-top electron and proton accelerators, high brightness X-ray generation and application. It will also be used for research on chemistry, life science and materials science. One of the most important trends for the development of extreme physical conditions in the world is to combine the extreme conditions with advanced light source and neutron source. For example, both National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) of USA and the European Synchronous Radiation Facility (ESRF) have upgrade plans to extend their research under improved extreme conditions. For the construction of extreme conditions platform in China, we need to pay attention to the possible combinations of this platform with the Shanghai light source, Hefei light source, spallation neutron source, and especially Beijing New Light Source (BNLS). The combination of extreme physical conditions with the highly bright light and high energy X-ray of BNLS would · 80 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

5.4 Ultra-scale Computing Infrastructure 1. Development Trend The development of scientific researches has posed new challenges to scientific problems either in complexity or in scalability, thus information technology has become a vital method to study and solve these problems. As an important basis for scientific researches and social & economical activities, information technology has become new production forces. In scientific researches information technology mainly comprises 3 different areas: 1) General-purpose super computing, which includes grid computing, finite element computing, aerodynamic computing and so on, and all these computings may be irrelevant to data processing. Super computing is usually targeted on specific users; 2) High performance computing (HPC) for scientific researches which is widely used in physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy and geoscience and 3) Science data platform. Science data are not only the achievements and accumulation of previous researches but also important resources for more complex future researches. Science data platform not only covers the needs of various scientific subjects and fields related to the continuous development of economy and society but also provides integrated data service for fundamental researches. Based on the requirement of national science and technology development, advanced information technology would be adopted to improve and complete the national HPC infrastructure. General-purpose supper computing serves the needs of various fields such as meteorology data simulation and forecast, earthquake prediction, medicine design, environmental science, materials science, computational physics, computational chemistry, hydrodynamics, etc. HPC would focus on the parallelization and distribution of computing tasks. HPC for scientific research would especially meet the computing challenges from the following fields in the coming years: Physics will be one of the most important data intensive computing applications in the next 10 years. Take high energy physics for example. Large experi5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 81 ·

Roadmap 2050

provide an ideal environment for scientific research under extreme conditions. The construction of extreme physical conditions platform requires a huge investment and long-term technological accumulation. Currently, China still has a long way to go before catching up with the advanced countries in this regard. This difference makes China less competitive in some key areas of frontier science and technology. Fortunately, with continuously hard working of several generations and with the strong support from the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for years, China has sufficiently prepared in both human resource and technological accumulations for building up such a large comprehensive platform.

Roadmap 2050

ments such as collider experiments, synchrotron facilities, neutrino experiment of Daya Bay and neutron source would become the most important scientific research equipment in China in the future. China also participates in the international collaborations of large high energy physics experiments. All these physics experiments need HPC resources to conduct high efficient analyses for new physics results. Astrophysics and astronomy are important scientific research fields which comprise large experiments in astronomy observation, cosmic ray observation, hard X-ray modulation telescope and so on. The massive data produced by these experiments require large computation power to process and analyze them. Computing tasks of biomedicine include biology information, biology taxonomy research, gene research, molecule docking and medicine research. Each of these projects requires large computation power. Besides these projects, more biology research projects also imply bigger challenges to computing requirements. Computing requirements of chemistry mainly include molecular computing, modeling, visualization and analysis. Chemistry computing software has been widely used in fields concerning people’s livelihood such as new material design and chemistry reaction process simulation. They have broad application prospects. Computing tasks from geoscience include earth geophysics, sensor technology, spatial and marine environment researches. The analyses of terrestrial space data, hydrology data, marine fluid space data and air flow data coming from geoscience are important computing tasks in the future. Adequate computing facility is the vital support for spatial environment and marine environment research. The main mission of informationization on big science in the future is to target at computing application of scientific research, developing and constructing an e-Science computing infrastructure for general-purpose super computing, HPC for scientific research and science data platform. (1) General-purpose Super Computing New super computing infrastructure should be built based on new technologies. With the expansion of scalability, the current architecture of super computing might not be applicable for future development. New architecture for super computing such as parallel on chip, CPU+GPU, biology computer, quantum computer would be developed. Distributed super computing would also be an important branch with the development of network technology. (2) HPC for Scientific Research Distributed environment as one of the solutions of computing and storage infrastructure will be built. Efforts will be made to study and build computing infrastructure interconnected with new network technologies for large workstations, spatial and marine environment.

· 82 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2. Goal of Infrastructure Construction The goals to develop and construct e-Science computing infrastructure are as follows: (1) Super Computing Resources Super computing is usually classified as HPC and HTC (High Throughput Computing). HPC uses low latency and high bandwidth connection to connect a bunch of processors to build super computers. HPC is very crucial to solve CPU and Memory intensive, tight coupled computing problems. HTC is mainly used for data intensive computing which also requires completing large amount of computing tasks in a period of time. HTC requires high speed network connections to data storage system for applications to ensure high IO rate. The construction of super computing infrastructure can be divided into three phases. By 2020, a distributed hierarchy infrastructure will be built, which comprises a few Level One national super computing centers, several Level Two centers located at research institutions and universities, and laboratory level super computers connected with high speed network to achieve 10 petaflops computing power. By 2035, with the development of computer technology, the hierarchy infrastructure will become a real distributed infrastructure. After 2035, a whole new super computing infrastructure would be built. (2) Science Data Platform The most important problem from future scientific research is long-term data preservation. With the continuous increase of data capacity, a distributed, heterogeneous storage infrastructure will provide high performance data access service. Fiber, magnetic device, holographic device, macro RAID and biomolecule storage device can be used. In 2020, a secure distributed science data platform will be developed for data sharing with a capacity of 100PB. It would be expanded to EB level by 2035 (1PB=1015 Bytes, 1EB=1018 Bytes). (3) High Speed Network Architecture Global end to end high speed network architecture is an important basis 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 83 ·

Roadmap 2050

(3) Science Data Platform EB level distributed massive storage infrastructure should be built to provide solid storage support to massive data backup and lifetime management for important national scientific projects and equipment. By integrating data resources from various fields, a service-orientated scientific data resource system is to be developed. As the national scientific data center, the science data platform will provide stable data backup for nationwide science projects. The future scientific computing infrastructure should be rooted in general –purpose super computing, HPC for scientific research and science data platform to form a comprehensive scientific computing infrastructure as the foundation of future scientific research.

Roadmap 2050

of HPC infrastructure. All HPC resources should be connected by dedicated networks which support cross protocol technologies and reduce the cost of both construction and maintenance. By 2020, 50 Gbps interconnections among top supper computing centers and 10 Gbps among secondary computing centers with millisecond level delay between ends should be established. By 2035, the interconnections should be upgraded to 100Gbps.

5.5 The Integrated Research Platform for Imaging Imaging is the most primitive and direct way for human beings to understand nature. Imaging technologies are state of the art scientific tools with which to get the external feature, inner structure and the functional information of an object. In modern society, not only can human beings see the external morphology of objects, but also observe the internal structures and the various functional activities. By using various detection principles, imaging techniques convert the rays with different energy and time coherence into recordable electrical or optical signals, which can represent qualitatively or quantitatively various characteristics of the object. In a normal sense, an image or a picture is worth a thousand data points measured by spectroscopy. Combining the imaging technique and the spectroscopy method, we can get the spatial distribution of spectroscopic properties of an object with special significance for scientific research. Imaging technologies can be divided into the following categories based on the radiation rays: optical imaging, electron imaging, positron imaging, proton imaging, neutron imaging, X-ray imaging and gamma-ray imaging. And according to the imaging methods, it can be classified into absorption imaging (electron, nuclear, X-ray and γ-ray absorption imaging), emission imaging (radionuclide and radiation ray imaging) and imaging using physical processes or effects, such as the use of space or time coherence (X-ray phase-contrast), time coincidence (positron annihilation γ-ray), energy difference (energy discriminate of X / γ-ray), resonant absorption or emission resonance. Nuclear imaging and other radiation imaging technologies are almost simultaneously developed with the discovery of X-ray radiation and radioactive isotopes. The X-ray imaging technology widely used in medicine, fundamental science and industrial fields has become the foundation for the development of nuclear imaging. In 2009, American researchers completed the first high-resolution CT scan of the world most famous fossil, Lucy, an ancient human ancestor who lived 3.2 million years ago. Scientists believed that the imaging technology research could help answer the question of human evolution.

· 84 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Roadmap 2050 Fig. 5.4 American scientists completed the CT scan of the world most famous fossil, Lucy, an ancient human ancestor who lived 3.2 million years ago

Recently, X-ray phase contrast imaging and coherent diffraction imaging based on synchrotron radiation have been employed to analyze the organs and functional cells of small scale living organism in cell level, which can combine many advantages such as high electron density resolution, high temporal resolution, large view field and increased penetration depth. Together with multiscale resolution, these imaging technologies are applied in both static structure research and dynamic function research. For example, the three-dimensional image of the frozen yeast cell can be reconstructed from a set of multi-angle magnified projection images obtained by X-ray microscope. This high resolution imaging technique will make it possible to directly observe the three dimensional morphological structure in living cells. Nuclear imaging technologies, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (ECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), can show the physiological and pathological processes at cell or molecular level. These imaging methods could offer the real “functional” imaging, and have become the key technologies for early prevention, early diagnosis and early treatment of some major diseases, such as the nervous system disease, the cardiovascular disease and cancer. Functional magnetic resonance imaging technology (fMRI) allows the structural imaging and at the same time reveals the functional information. At present, the imaging technologies combined with life sciences have become one of the important development directions for modern medicine. With the help of fMRI, scientists have obtained the “pattern” of love vs. hatred and the romantic “image” of human, which are not only the problems of public concern, but are also of great scientific significance for human cognition.

5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 85 ·

Roadmap 2050 %'' +    ;>    

Fig. 5.6 Proofs in the brain scan: Romance does not have to fade

Many key research institutions in the world, such as the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), national laboratories of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in Japan, have been enhancing the applications of imaging technologies in the research fields of molecular biology, neuroscience and cognitive science. As early as in 2001, the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) established the National Institute Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the mission of which encompasses the activities of developing advanced imaging and engineering techniques for conducting biomedical research from the molecular and genetic level to the wholebody level and to the entire population. The bidding documents of NIH and the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) projects, the guide lines which represent the direction of future development in the international biomedical imaging re· 86 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Fig. 5.7 Single-gold-atom imaging by TEAM 0.5 project

One common characteristic of these research institutions is to have a large number of imaging technologies and imaging equipment which are independently developed and trans-commercialized. Thus this helps them to occupy the forefront and the high ground of scientific research. The launching of “the Integrated Research Platform for Imaging” in China is based upon the requirement from the following aspects: t
The imaging technology has become one of the indispensable tools for scientific research; t
The complex large imaging equipment is of high technology, and needs large amount of budget and skilled workers to maintain and support its operation. Thus it is suitable for centralized construction and shared application of its platform; t
The frontier of imaging research should develop “trans-commercialized” and multi-modular imaging technology, the realization of which is beyond the ability of any individual research group or institute, needs specialized teamwork and can only be achieved through the framework of state research center platform. 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 87 ·

Roadmap 2050

search, have put a strong focus on the imaging techniques. The explicitly listed large projects in the bidding guides include small animal imaging, image-guided interventions, imaging methods and technology development, low-cost medical imaging devices, cell imaging and molecular imaging systems and methods, medical magnetic resonance imaging, new type of CT (especially optical coherent scattering CT) to name a few. Electron microscopy imaging techniques represented by the TEAM and TEAM 0.5 Projects of the United States can fully acquire the microstructures of material surface and nano-materials. New imaging technologies make it possible to realize the single-atom imaging.

Roadmap 2050

“The Integrated Research Platform for Imaging” is to be constructed following the orientation of scientific and social development. Moreover, it is a scientific facility which serves the fundamental and application research in many fields, such as human health, brain and cognitive science, materials science, environmental science and nano-science. In addition, the platform has its own scientific objectives, namely, the fundamental imaging research and developing key imaging technology with our own intellectual property rights, aiming at becoming the state base for imaging research and technology development. The actualization process of these objectives will further improve the research and technological level of the platform itself and strengthen its support for scientific research. At the same time, the process will enhance the development and maturation of advanced imaging equipment industry in our country. “The Integrated Research Platform for Imaging” is to be constructed in two phases. In the first phase (till 2020), the complex large imaging equipment urgently required by the scientific research and suitable for concentrated construction and shared utilization will be built with priority. These include multimodular molecular imaging equipment (micro-PET, micro-CT, micro-MRI, fluorescence-CT and their multi-modular combination), functional imaging equipment (high resolution brain PET, high field fMRI) and sub-Angstrom resolution electron microscope system. The multi-modular molecular imaging technology provides real-time, in vivo tools for pharmaceutical research and animal model studies, benefiting the fields like pharmaceutical development and gene-expression research of tumor diagnosis and therapy. The functional imaging technology offers an essential research tool for brain and cognitive science, the diagnosis and treatment of brain disease (such as AD or PD). The high resolution electron microscope provides materials science, especially nano-science, with direct and dynamic imaging methods. Meanwhile, the ability for the sustainable development of the platform is to be accomplished, including the buildup of research team capability (with the size of about 100 permanent researchers) and corresponding facilities (general technology support lab for industrial control, algorithmic and software engineering lab, an interdisciplinary application research lab). In the second phase (2020 ~), we will research and develop the imaging technologies based on new principles in order to upgrade the innovative research capability, push the frontier scientific interdisciplinary study forward, develop high-power imaging facility with independent intellectual property rights and at last build an integrated imaging research platform with an advanced level in the world. One important work is to utilize the excellent advantages of synchrotron radiation source and spallation neutron source adequately and develop dynamic and three-dimensional imaging techniques of both X-ray and neutron with high spatial resolution, high temporal resolution and high contrast when Beijing Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Source and China Spallation Neutron · 88 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

5.6 Other Multidisciplinary Application Platforms 1. High Intensity Laser Scientific Experimental Facility The rapid development of ultra-short and ultra-intense laser technology makes it possible for the intense field and even super intense field to be generated in laboratory, and thus provides human beings with unprecedented experimental approaches and extreme physical conditions. At present the use of medium-sized laser device produces a maximum focused light intensity near 1022 W/cm2, in this intense field condition, research on the interaction between laser and various forms of material falls into an unprecedented, highly nonlinear and relativistic new scope. And this high intensity field in time category is extremely fast also, thus a new research field is opened up with ultra-fast light. In the following five to ten years, the laser focus intensity may exceed 23 10 W/cm2, even up to 1026–1028 W/cm2, the ultra-intense laser field kinetic oscillated energy of electrons will reach up to TeV (1012 eV) and even PeV ( 1015 eV). The field of ultra-fast science will further advance to a new scope. In the  extreme ultra-fast time scale, human beings is entering the attosecond (10 18s) era 15 from the femtosecond (10 s) era. This is one of the most important progresses in science and technology nowadays. With the development and application of attosecond coherent light source, we can detect and control the new phenomena and new laws of the microscopic world with an unprecedented accuracy, so a new era of attosecond science is coming. Based on the ultra-short laser pulses and high-brightness X-ray sources, neutron sources, high energy electron beams, proton beams and ion beams produced by the laser interaction with the material, the ultra-high power laser scientific experimental facility can be a powerful impetus to a number of basic subjects, interdisciplines frontier research and related areas of strategic high-tech innovation and development, such as high energy density physics, atomic, molecular and photophysics, high energy physics and nuclear physics, laboratory astrophysics, nonlinear science, chemistry, materials science, life science, laser fusion energy, miniaturization ultra-high gradient high energy particle accelerators. The international community is actively promoting the development of ultra-high power laser scientific experimental facility, the current representative 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 89 ·

Roadmap 2050

Source are built up. Then the X-ray imaging beamline and experimental station to study X-ray phase contrast imaging, X-ray coherent diffraction imaging and X-ray microscopy will be constructed in Beijing Advanced Synchrotron Radiation Source. The neutron imaging beamline and experimental station will be also constructed in China Spallation Neutron Source to study neutron phase contrast imaging and three dimensional imaging.

Roadmap 2050

of them is the British Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Central Laser Facility. In 2006, the EU included the HiPER device (high power laser devices for fusion energy and multi-disciplinary basic research) and the ELI device (extremely high intensity laser device) in the European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. ELI and HiPER are to be built up round 2013 and 2015 respectively for research on laser fusion energy, high energy-density physics, attosecond science, particle accelerators, high energy physics, nuclear physics, laboratory astrophysics, nuclear medicine and interdisciplines frontier research. The direction of further development may be the combination of ultra-high intensity laser and high energy particle accelerator (synchrotron radiation facility and X-ray free-electron laser device) to exert their respective advantages and provide more advanced tools for research on interdisciplines and applications of high technology. It can be predicted that when the laser power reaches 1023 Wcm-2 , the 1m long electrons can be accelerated to 1 PeV (equivalent to the use of traditional acceleration techniques to accelerate electron around the globe in a week). Based on the ultra-intense laser-driven phase-space density, super high energy electron accelerators can achieve miniaturized free-electron laser. The ultra-relativistic interaction between more than 1024 W/cm2 intensity laser and solid can generate s-level X-ray and γ-ray with the pulse width of 1018–1021. In order to carry out the frontier researches on high energy density physics, attosecond science, high energy physics and nuclear physics, laboratory astrophysics, life science, micro-nano structure materials science, chemistry, information technology and other disciplines, and the requirements of strategic high technology field researches on laser fusion energy, particle accelerators and so on, and based on the work of SG-II laser facility and series of ultra-high and ultra-short laser device, high intensity laser scientific experimental facility will be constructed, including the development of intense laser light source and high energy beam and 10 scientific experimental stations with significant scientific objectives. The content for the development of high intensity laser light source and high energy particle beam is determined on the basis of the SG-II laser facility and the output capability of coherent and incoherent X-ray sources, neutron sources, high energy electron beam, proton beam and ion beam on PW facility. With the upgrading project of SG-II, the new SG-II laser facility and PW laser system will be established, the following technical specifications will be achieved: The shortest pulse width is 15 fs, the maximum focused intensity is 1023 W/cm2, and the laser pulse repetition frequency is 0.1–1 Hz; The main technical specifications of coherent X-ray sources are: The photon energy is 30  300 eV, and the single pulse width is 10 as –500 fs (1as = 10 18s, 1fs = 10 15s); The main technical specifications of non-coherent X-ray sources are: The photon  energy is 10–100 keV, and the single pulse width is 1–10 ps (1ps = 10 12s); The main technical specification of high energy electron beam is: The electron energy is 10 MeV–10 GeV; The main technical specifications of neutron source · 90 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Table 5.1

The main application areas and directions of various experimental stations

Main Application Field and Scientific Objective

Physics

Chemistry

Materials Science

Experimental Station

Station Number

High-energy-density physics: laboratory astrophysics and cosmology, warm dense and warm dense matter studies.

High-energydensity physics research beamline

1

High energy physics and nuclear physics, generation and application of ultra-high phase-space density high energy electron beam, nonlinear Thomson scattering and Compton scattering, desktop-based X-ray and g-ray free-electron laser

Laser advanced acceleration technology and application research beamline

1

Ultra-high time and space-resolved atomic, molecular physics: molecular four-dimensional imaging (0.1nm spatial resolution and fs time resolution) and electronic four-dimensional imaging (0.001nm spatial resolution, and as time resolution)

Molecular imaging research beamline

1

Atomic, molecular and photophysics: Attosecond science ultrafast electron dynamics and coherent research beamline control, the non-linear optics of X-ray band

1

Chemical reaction dynamics: manipulation and detection of molecular structure and molecular ultrafast reaction kinetics

Chemical reaction kinetics research beamline

2

Micro-nano structured materials science: nano-scale three-dimensional selective manipulation and preparation

Advanced manufacturing of micro-nano structured materials research beamline

3

Materials science: such as neutron radiation of fusion-related materials, and timeresolved neutron spectroscopy of special materials

Short-pulse highbrightness neutron source application beamline

3

5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 91 ·

Roadmap 2050

are: The neutron energy is 2.45 MeV, the single-pulse neutron number is 108, and the single-pulse width is <100 ps; The main technical specification of high energy proton beam is: The proton energy is 10–300 MeV; The main technical specification of high energy ion beam is: C ion energy is 10–500 MeV. The experimental stations to be constructed include high-energy-density physics research, laser advanced acceleration technology and application research, molecular imaging research, attosecond science research, chemical reaction kinetics research, short-pulse high-brightness neutron source application, laser-accelerated high energy protons and carbon-ion-beam advanced research for treatment of cancer, ultra-fast X-ray diffraction and analysis of protein structure research, and advanced manufacturing of micro-nano structured materials research beamlines. The main application areas and directions of various experimental stations are demonstrated in the following table:

Roadmap 2050

Continued Experimental Station

Station Number

Proton and ion beam for advanced cancer therapy research

Laser-accelerated high energy protons and carbon-ion-beam advanced cancer therapy research beamline

4

Three-dimensional molecular structure, interaction between protein molecules and small drug molecules: the use of ultrashort pulse coherent X-ray beam may break the limitations of requirement of periodic structure for samples when using synchrotron radiation-based X-ray diffraction, and also break through the fundamental limitations of medium resolution in transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and of small molecules in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), making structure determination of a single macromolecular possible.

Ultra-fast X-ray diffraction and analysis of protein structure research beamline

4

Main Application Field and Scientific Objective

Medicine and Life Sciences

China has had a position in the world in the development of high intensity laser device and corresponding physical research. The SG-II facility and PW laser devices at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM), highlighting some outstanding technical specifications in the international level and representing the development of high power laser in China, have become the de facto high-level scientific experimental devices, and will provide irreplaceable tools for experimental study on national security, basic science and some interdisciplines. In the next few years, the upgraded SG II facility and PW devices will have the capability to output tens of thousands Joules in ns pulse and pwlevel high-power in ps or fs pulse, and to provide ultra-short high-brightness coherent X-rays pulse, fusion neutron beam and high energy electron and proton beams. Therefore, it is urgently required to build a multidisciplinary research platform supported by high power laser device to attract top scientists to use these devices to carry out basic research and promote the intersection of various disciplines so as to contribute to the breakthrough in frontier scientific research. The construction of high intensity laser scientific experimental facility can be divided into two phases: The first phase should start as soon as possible, the second phase to upgrade the existing facilities will be launched around 2012. The proposed siting of the facility is Shanghai since it can take full advantage of the existing research base installation and be closely combined with the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility and the X-ray free-electron laser devices to form a comprehensive and world leading level scientific research base of photons. · 92 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

In recent years, a number of application researches, such as heavy ion therapy, biology effect of space radiation, breeding induced by heavy ions and materials science with ion irradiation have been carried out at HIRFL. As HIRFL which was constructed mainly for fundamental research of nuclear physics now is far from satisfaction to the requirements of more and more users, a proposal for constructing a facility of ion beam application research at Lanzhou (FIARL) has been put forward in order to meet the need of ion beam application progress. FIARL contains the accelerator complex and various experimental devices. The accelerator complex includes the injector (ECR ion source + cyclotron/linac), the main machine (synchrotron) and the beamline. It can deliver beams from proton to Xe ion. The energy of proton and carbon ion will be up to 430 MeV and 230 MeV/u, respectively. The experimental facilities contain 4 terminals for heavy ion therapy (the horizontal one, the vertical one, the horizontal + vertical one, and the 45° one), 6 terminals for radiobiology research (the horizontal one for radio dosimetry, the vertical one for large area irradiation, one for microbeam irradiation, the vertical one for microgravity, the vertical one for horizontal irradiation of big animals and one for the study of biology molecular fragments induced by heavy ions), 3 terminals for material irradiations (one for the irradiation at extreme conditions, one for large area ion scanning and one for minute machining by using ion beams), 3 terminals for microanalysis (one for microanalysis in the air, one for normal analysis and one for micro area analysis by using microbeams) and one terminal for isotope applications. Scientific significance and application prospects of FIARL are as follows: t
Investigation of heavy ion therapy Therapy mechanism and technology in clinic based on heavy ion beams will be investigated. The treatment planning for heavy ion irradiation that is suitable for Chinese will also be investigated to improve the therapy consequence and reduce the cost. t
Investigation of irradiation biology The groundwork platform will be built on the basis of the ion accelerator in order to simulate the irradiation of various biological materials induced by high energy ions in space, and to study the space irradiation environment and the biological effect under the situation of different ions, different doses and different energies. The ion beam irradiation technology will also be applied to study the modifications of medicines, and to cultivate new generation breeds of the crops for food and energy source. t
Investigation of irradiation material science The anti-irradiated materials and the irradiation modification of some huge objects will be investigated. The space single-particle effect (SSE) is a hidden disaster for some parts of the space flight apparatus. The ion beam could be applied, for example, to check the SSE on the ground to keep the space flight safe. 5 Multidisciplinary Research Platform

· 93 ·

Roadmap 2050

2. Facility for Ion Beam Applications

Roadmap 2050

6

Life Sciences and Biotechnology

Life sciences are a science which studies the nature and phenomena of life activities in living things, as well as the relationship between lives and their living environment. In the 1950’s, American biologist Watson and British physicist Crick established the double helix model of DNA, marking the birth of molecular biology. Since then, biological research has risen to the molecular level from the cellular level and entered the golden period of development. Bio-technology is an application science combining the latest achievements of modern bio-sciences with the latest engineering technology. Biotechnology, defined by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, is a technology that serves the community using micro-organisms, animals and plants as a reactor for processing materials in order to provide products, by means of natural science and engineering principles. The development of life sciences and bio-technology has significant impacts on the science and technology development, social progress and economic growth, as well as wide applications in agriculture, medicine and health, energy and environmental protection. The interdisciplinary studies have created excellent chances for the breakthroughs of bio-science and bio-technology research, and made possible for life sciences to enter the development stage of big science stage. The trends of life sciences and biotechnology have fully revealed the following three features: first, modern life sciences become increasingly important in the whole field of technology; second, the development of life sciences depends much more on hightech; third, genomics, as the representative of genome research, leads the development of life sciences, and comprehensively changes its profile. With the continuous improvement of the sequencing capacity, life sciences are going to a new era of unprecedented prosperity, and thus will greatly affect the process of human civilization. Life Sciences in the 21st century will lead the development of science. In the next 50 years, some research fields in life sciences will go ahead more rapidly than those in the 20th century, which will have a more significant impact on production, life, and environmental protection of human beings. As for the H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

6.1 Rapid Progress in Sequencing Technology to Enable Life Sciences into a New Genomic Era In recent years, gene sequencing technology has witnessed a rapid development. Using new sequencer (454 FLX pyrosequencing platform, Solexa Genome Analysis platform, SOLiD sequencer, etc.), scientists have created a cave bear and Neanderthal mitochondrial genome and 80% of the mammoth genome. In 2008 alone, Nature and Science reported that more than 10 species were sequenced. The new sequencer (Polonator and HeliScop) are now available. Because of the rapid speed and relatively low cost, both sequences are highly appraised as a revolutionary breakthrough in sequencing technology. In 2001, when it was clear that the initial sequencing of human genome would soon be completed, scientists undertook a formal planning process for the next phase of genomics research; they identified several significant emerging themes and opportunities for genomics research, and made a very “bold” plan that included a list of new technologies. Among them is the technology which can reduce the cost of the whole-genome DNA sequencing to one tenthousandth or one hundred-thousandth of the then cost. In other words, the sequencing of an individual human genome only costs 1,000 US dollars or less. Now, inexpensive sequencing technology has ushered in the whole-genome sequencing popularity era. Scientists have developed the synthesis of four-color DNA sequencing (sequencing by synthesis, SBS), the oligonucleotide probes combined cycle sequencing (sequencing by ligation) as well as the nano-channel sequencing technology (nanopore). The next-generation sequencer (NGS) aims 6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 95 ·

Roadmap 2050

competition in the international gene industry for a country, life sciences will become a main battlefield to increase the comprehensive national strength of competition in technology, and bio-technology industry will be an important industry supporting the development of the economy and harmonious society of a country. Likewise, life sciences and bio-technology applications are also the priority areas of China’s science, technology and economy. The protein research facility under construction with technical innovation as its core will provide a large versatile research capacity and play a key role in the strategic change of China’s technological capabilities in protein study. Future development in the field should focus on the strengthening of basic research and the enhancement of the original innovation capacity, and the priority given to support genomics and proteomics, as well as research on new theories and methods. Study will be focused on gene regulation on the growth development, high-level expression regulation of exogenous gene, site-specific integration technology, molecular biology and plant functional genomics in breeding applications, biological diversity, the molecular mechanism controlling human major diseases and important plant and animal disease (pest).

Roadmap 2050

at developing new devices to improve the sequencing length and reduce the cost. With scientists’ unremitting efforts, it can be believed that the sequencing methods and devices with a longer read length, higher accuracy and higherthroughput will come out. For example, the transient sequencing technology recently has appeared, due to the using of a zero mode waveguide (ZMW) nanostructure, which enables real-time and accurate multiple DNA sequencing. In the next 50 years, it will be the general technical content to understand a species or a variety or a person’s genetic compositions and decipher the genome.When the genomes of most of the important species are sequenced, undoubtedly life sciences will enter a new genomics era. So far, nearly 2,000 kinds of species have been sequenced or almost completely sequenced. Following the completion of one percent of China’s human genome and rice genome sequencing, we have completed the genome sequencing for silkworm, cucumber and a number of other species, set up a number of related research institutions, and possessed certain international competitiveness regarding sequencing capacity. In the new genomics era, our country still needs to intensify the investment in order to develop new sequencers, establish national sequencing centers and maintain the international competitiveness regarding the sequencing ability.

Four-color DNA Sequencing by Synthesis (SBS) DNA sequencing by synthesis (SBS) on a solid surface during polymerase reaction offers a paradigm to decipher DNA sequences. In this approach, four nucleotides (A, C, G, T) are modified as reversible terminators by attaching a cleavable fluorophore to the               are still recognized by DNA polymerase as substrates. We found that an allyl moiety can                              !"#      $'$*"       +!/ :                !"# allyl-fluorophore in a polymerase reaction, are removed simultaneously in 30s by Pdcatalyzed dealkylation in aqueous buffer solution. This one-step dual-dealkylation reaction thus allows the reinitiation of the polymerase reaction and increases the SBS efficiency. DNA templates consisting of homopolymer regions are accurately sequenced by using this class of fluorescent nucleotide analogues on a DNA chip and a four-color fluorescent scanner.

Sequencing by Ligation This method is the latest development for direct PCR sequencing. PCR direct sequencing means that PCR products direct sequenced, rather than the traditional DNA sequencing technology which clones the fragment to be analyzed first in

· 96 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Nanopore Sequencing Nanopore sequencing is a recently developed technology which direct interpretsig of nucleic acid molecules converts the nucleotide sequence the singlestranded nucleic acids directly into an electrical signal, and carries out ultrafast sequence analysis at the speed of more than 1000 bp per second, which is compared with the existing sequencing technology, this technology is faster and cheaper. Besides, this method is applied in many fields such as pathogen genetic diagnosis, single nucleotide polymorphism and rapid detection of multi-component samples. Nanopore with a diameter of 10 to 20 nanometers and the length of several hundred nanometers, is made up of silicon channels. Each channel is made on a thin silicon membrane, and then put into the liquid. Because DNA is negatively charged, the genetic material will pass through the channel. Scientists have found that DNA matching with those attached to the pore can move more rapidly and pass through more pores. The movement of a particular DNA chain can be identified in the current. In fact, we can take advantage of a special signal pulse as the result of a specific DNA movement. When DNA in the liquid can be the perfect match with that on the pore, the current pulse is shorter than DNA with a base pair which does not match. This technology can rapidly detect the DNA molecule and does not need any tagged molecule. Hopefully this technology can be used in many areas of DNA sequencing (www.lifeomics.com).

6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 97 ·

Roadmap 2050

the sequencing vector and then has it sequenced. This not only greatly simplifies the operation and saves a lot of manpower and money, but also automates the operation. Application of new fluorescence detecting technology greatly increases the efficiency of sequencing. When direct sequence uses PCR cycle, the PCR products should first be converted into a single-stranded sequencing template. At present, the common method for the conversion is asymmetrice PCR, namely single-stranded DNA formed by the difference of primer concentration in the reaction system usually the concentration of adjacent primers 100:1. When a primer has been exhausted, another primer shall be single-stranded fragments, then it can be used for sequencing. In addition, obtaining single-stranded DNA still includes bead-capture method, exonuclease digestion method and Genomic Amplification with Transcript Sequencing Act (GAWTS). The latest developments for PCR direct sequencing are the cycle sequencing combining the dideoxy and the PCRddNTP synchronously added in and amplified by isotopes or fluorescent-labeled primers amplification of template and sequencing carried out at the same time, its specificity lies in the need of small amount of templates without separating single-strand. Application of PCR sequencing has the following advantages: (1) requirement of small amount of templates; (2) simple with standardization, automation; (3) efficient, accurate and rapid (www.lifeomics.com).

Roadmap 2050

6.2 Proteomics to Become a New Focus for Life Sciences Research Proteins are the executors of life activities. Proteomics is an emerging discipline that studies all proteins of living body and its function. Since 1995, the concept of proteome has been proposed for 14 years, and the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) has been also established for 8 years. Proteome research is the “hot spot among hot spots” in life sciences. Moreover an ambitious Human Proteome Project is in the pipeline. The HUPO’s aim is to implement Human Proteome Project (HPP), which is to continue related research after the human genome project to dissect the products of all genes in human bodyprotein, thus revealing the mysteries of life activities. Protein is much more complex than gene which can produce a variety of proteins. Moreover, these proteins can be generated at different time and different level in more than 200 kinds of cells in human body. Scientists, therefore, separate the human proteome into some organization or body fluids. Since 2001, many projects have been initiated, including the Human Plasma Proteome Project (HPPP), Human Liver Proteome Project (HLPP), Human Brain Proteome Project (HBPP) and Mice and Rats Proteome Project (MRPP). The new plan of Human Proteome will be carried out in three areas: 1) to identify proteins and their quantity in various tissues by mass spectrographic analysis, 2) to determine proteins location in tissues and cells using specific antibodies for each protein, 3) to systematically identify the interaction between one protein and other proteins. In the next 50 years, it is believed that all human proteins and their functions will be resolved and applied in pharmaceuticals and the treatment of cancer and other important diseases, thus human health will enter a new age. The isolation and identification of proteins are very time-consuming, the current measure technology of protein lags far behind gene sequencing, less than 100 proteins can only be separated and identified per day at the best laboratories. It is estimated that there may be hundreds of thousands of proteins in human body. It will take about 10 years for them to be identified. Therefore, the proteomics research requires innovation of methods and technology. At present, the method of combining multi-dimensional chromatography with mass spectrometry can make a good shotgun protein analysis, and capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry can enable fast and micro analysis. The traditional two-dimensional gel electrophoresis also has a new breakthrough, such as the blue native gel electrophoresis. Proteome research’s core technology consists of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, two-dimensional chromatography, two-dimensional capillary electrophoresis, liquid chromatography/capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The priority for future research is to develop the platform of high-throughput, highsensitivity and high-precision. Recently, Genomic Solution Inc, known for · 98 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

ChIP-chip Techology Chromosome immunoprecipitation (chromatin immunoprecipitation, ChIP) is based on the method developed in vivo analysis, also known as the binding site analysis, and it has become the main method in epigenetics information in the last decade. Its principle involves the crosslinking of proteins with DNA, fragmentation and preparation of soluble chromatin followed by immunoprecipitation with an antibody recognizing the protein of interest. The segment of the genome

6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 99 ·

Roadmap 2050

proteomics research facilities, has developed a complete solution for proteomics, which can perform efficient, automated and repetitive analysis, using a series of robot and software and a combination of two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. In addition to electrophoresis systems, such as 2D, etc., the system includes automated protein spots-cut robot platform, protein digestion automated unit, MALDI loading automated unit, protein digestion automated loading unit and software system for data management and analysis. Among several technologies for protein-protein interaction study at present, the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is relatively mature and has been widely used. Compared with other technologies, such as coimmunoprecipitation, yeast two-hybrid and mass spectrometry, the FRET method is applicable to living cells and fixing various kinds of molecules in cells, and it has higher sensitivity and resolution, and can produce clear image to directly provide position and quantitative information of protein-protein interaction, which is highly regarded. The current problem for FRET technology is how to reduce and remove the non-specific signals and increase the detecting ability for signal of extremely low level. Protein microarrays, a new technology developed after gene microarrays in the 1990’s, have the characteristics of high-throughput, miniaturization, integration and parallel detection, and thus can be applied in many fields. China’s Tsinghua University and Capital Bio Corporation have established a systematic biochip technology platform and its supporting equipment at three levels of gene, protein and cell, thus breaking the long-term foreign monopoly of biochip and its supporting equipment, which has been applied at several Chinese labs. Recently, British scientists reported a protein identification and quantitative method based on electronic-vibration coupled with two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy. It shows that infrared spectroscopy can be used for the detection and quantification of proteins, the scientists said that it would further explore breakthrough of the technology (Fournier 2008). In addition, a new ChIP-chip technology, the combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene-chip, enables to identify the whole-genome DNA-protein interactions. Scientists have even created a highthroughput method of protein expression entirely in vitro, and obtained the active proteins. This method can be widely used in protein functional studies.

Roadmap 2050

associated with the protein is then identified by PCR amplification of the DNA in the immunoprecipitates. This technology will help researchers monitor the presence of histones with post-translational modifications at specific genomic locations. ChIP can detect not only the body dynamic action between the trans-factor and DNA, but also can be used to study the relationship between various covalent histone modifications and gene expression. In recent years, when combined with the chip, the development of this technology has resulted in chromatin immunoprecipitation-chip (ChIP-chip). The method of combining co-immunoprecipitation with microarray technology can screen binding sites of DNA-binding proteins on a genome-wide basis, and become a very effective tool to further investigate the major metabolic pathway. The basic principle of ChIP-chip is to cross-link protein with the DNA in an in vivo environment by a gentle formaldehyde fixation, then DNA is shared by sonication for the 0.2–2 kb in length, and is precipitated using the protein-specific antibodies to get the set of DNA fragments specific binding to the protein of interest. We can gain information on protein-DNA interactions by fragment purification and detection. The co-precipitation of DNA and appropriate control are labeled with the fluorescent marker, and added to the glass slide for microarray analysis. Using exogenous DNA as a background, you can find specific proteins in the genome of the binding sites, with comparison with the immune precipitated DNA as a background. In general, ChIP-chip falls into 3 steps: ChIP, DNA processing, microarray analysis (www. lifeomics.com).

In our country, “the Protein Research Program” was initiated in 2006, which focused on a prospective deployment such as protein complex and protein machines, proteomics, major disease-related protein function studies, new technologies and new methods of protein research, setting up a set of projects, such as “dynamic proteomics research for important organizations and cells” , “protein modification, transfer and redox structural biology”, “ the laws and quality control of protein production, folding, assembly and degradation” and so on. Scientists have conducted fruitful research on these scientific projects, and made important achievements with international influence and application prospects. At the same time, a national laboratory for protein sciences was initially built with the proteomics-based facilities built in Beijing and the synchrotron radiation facilities built in Shanghai. Since the protein research platform was built, a national protein research network has been initially established with Beijing and Shanghai as the node connecting Tianjin, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Hefei, Nanjing, Chongqing, Dalian, Changsha, Xi’an, Chengdu and Kunming. With the protein research program as a locomotive, the National Laboratory for Protein Sciences as an important organizational model and the technological infrastructure as an important condition, the frame of protein research and innovation is being formed and increasingly improved. But in the future we still need to build large platforms for protein-protein interaction technology, protein targeting technology, antibody preparation and identification of technology, bioinformatics technology, as well as database. · 100 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

6.3 Systems Biology to Create a Comprehensive Life Study Systems biology is a subject which studies an organism, viewed as an integrated and interacting network of genes, proteins and biochemical reactions which give rise to life, and through computational biology, quantitatively describes and predicts biological functions, types and behavior. American scientist Leroy Hood (1999) proposed the concept of systems biology, which deals with the system view of biological systems and tries to understand their general characteristics and laws that govern them. The development of genomics, proteomics and other new major science contribute to the birth of systems biology, and conversely, systems biology research and development will further enhance the genome postera of life sciences. The traditional life science has focused on identifying individual genes, proteins and cells in a small metabolic pathway, but systems biology using holistic as the research object reflects the characteristics of big science, and is the innovation for life sciences. Biologists consider systems biology as an information science. This view contains three connotations. First, as the core of biological research, genomics is digital. Second, the core of life digital represents two major types of information, one refers to the gene encoding proteins, and the other one refers to the regulatory network controlling the gene behavior. In fact, the information of gene regulatory network is digital, because the binding site of transcription factor controlling gene expression is also sequence. Third, biological 6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 101 ·

Roadmap 2050

Some reports pointed out that there are still some problems to be overcome in the current proteomics research, including strategies, methods, techniques, devices and so on. Proteomics research needs high-throughput. The determination of three-dimensional structure of each component, the identification of each component function and the interaction between various components do not enable high throughput except for the analysis of partial separation and identification. At technical level, the current main problem is how to improve the resolution for complex X-ray diffraction and cold electron microscopy techniques to facilitate the detection of complex structural details of each component, and thus to determinate the fine structure of more proteins in complex in high throughput manner. Rather than studying the individual proteins themselves, “proteomics” wants to understand how “proteins” synergistically and harmoniously constitute a living body from cells to tissues, organs and even organisms. Therefore, we must have an overall concept, and need to enhance the proteome-level research into the proteomics level. We must consider not only one or a few proteins as disease indicators or as drug targets, but all kinds of “community” proteins, as well as their “community” (Nature, 2008, 452, 913).

Roadmap 2050

information is a hierarchy, and moves along different levels. In general, the biological information flows in such a direction: DNA → mRNA → protein → protein interaction networks → cells → organs → individuals → group. Each level of information provides a useful perspective for understanding the operation of living systems. For a complex life system, we must integrate all the information of all points of view in order to finally understand the phenomenon of life. The basic approaches for studying systems biology are experiment and modeling. In particular, with the development of models, we perform quantitative analyses to achieve the system forecast, by describing the relationship and interaction of components in life system. Its dependence of technical and scientific experimental device is far more than molecular biology itself. To achieve the expected level of cognitive biology, the systems biology must rely on the advancement of new technologies, new equipment and computing technology, including the development and progress of genomics and proteomics technology, especially in the development of large computer.

6.4 Development of Synthetic Biology will Create Artificial Life Synthetic biology is an integrated subject that is based on engineering theory, design and synthesis of a variety of complex biological functional modules, systems and even human beings, and applied to a specific production and manufacturing. Synthetic biology aims at turning basic research in biology field into practical productive forces and solving the energy, materials, health and environmental protection issues, etc. It has great scientific significance for understanding human life, revealing the mystery of life, re-designing and reconstructing the major areas of biology. Synthetic biology is a relatively young research field and not until the early 21st century did it gradually become the frontier of life sciences research. The strategy of synthetic biology research is: standardized design of genetic elements (genes module)-synthesis of genes module-standardized assembly methods-artificial life synthesis. Some recent studies include cellular networks, genetic circuits, synthetic bio-materials and substances, the smallest genome and synthesis biology. Synthetic biology is no longer science fiction, it has made substantial progress. Scientists have sequentially synthesized polio virus (2002), φX174 phage (2003), pandemic influenza virus in 1918 (2005), mycoplasma laboratorium (artificial chromosome) consisting of 381 genes and 580,000 base pairs (2007). Especially the synthesis of mycoplasma laboratorium, according to the DNA sequence of mycoplasma genitalium, the researchers removed 1/5 of the non-coding sequence, reconstructed the new DNA sequences and chromosomes, and implanted them into the reproductive mycoplasma shell without chromosomes, obtained a new expressed artificial · 102 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

6.5 Continuous Advancement in Micro-technology to Promote Exploration for Fine Cell Structure The development of functional genomics and proteomics, constantly deepens our understanding of various components controlling life activities in the human body. However, these components being at work in the life cell or a part of a more subtle position have prompt scientists to deeply understand the fine structure of cells, and thus led to rapid advance in microscopy techniques. In the 1760’s, the emergence of optical microscope enabled mankind to see the cells, and thus resulted in histology, cytology and so on. In the 1930’s, the invention of electron microscope made human beings understand the submicroscopic structure of cells. In the 1980’s, the appearance of scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has enabled individual molecules and atomic structure in life to be revealed to scientists. The atomic force microscope (AFM) invented in 1986, whose horizontal resolution is 1 nm and vertical resolution of 0.1 nm, can distinguish the nano-scale structures and characteristics through only the atom-sized probe microscopes, and achieve in vivo in situ studies. In the life sciences, AFM can be used to study nucleic acids, proteins and other biological molecules, to investigate the internal structure of living cells for molecular identification. 6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 103 ·

Roadmap 2050

chromosomes mycoplasma. Science magazine commented that although it still could not confirm whether the synthesis of the genome can replace a truly natural state of the genome, yet this work has paved the way for customizing the bacteria for more efficient generation of drugs, bio-fuel, and other useful molecules for human beings, and is considered “a milestone in the field of biological engineering”. It is an outstanding achievement in the emerging field of synthetic biology. In China, synthetic biology is still in its infancy, but there have been many accumulations in research and application of biological related techniques, such as genome sequencing, DNA synthesis, genome modification, systems biology, bioinformatics, etc., and it can be said that our synthetic biology is almost at the same starting line with the developed countries. However, in our country the synthetic biology is still in the sporadic stage. China should quickly set up a national research center for synthetic biology to develop large-scale DNA synthesis technologies and equipment, the core technology and facilities for large-scale sequencing, metabolism, molecular detection, and integrated microflow reactor. Synthetic biology is related to national economic development and human civilization progress. China should lose no time in seizing the opportunity once every hundred years so as to gain a leading position in the coming biotechnology revolution.

Roadmap 2050

With the new progress in imaging technology, optical microscopy also continues to develop high-resolution. On the one hand, scientists improve the spatial resolution, and on the other hand, they improve the resolution through combining the new non-linear technology with a high numerical aperture measurement technology, thereby forming a series of high-resolution threedimensional microscopy (confocal and deconvolution microscopy, interference imaging microscopy and nonlinear microscopy, etc.) and a series of microscopy techniques to improve the surface resolution (near-field scanning optical microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, surface plasmon resonance microscopy, etc.). At present, the resolution of optical microscopes has broken through the diffraction limit of the 200nm axial and 400nm lateral resolution, and constantly provides new technological means for studies at the sub-cellular level and the molecular level. Recently, scientists have successfully developed the Random-Access Multiphoton Microscope (RAMPM), and carried out the high-speed 3D imaging for the dye-labeled pyramidal cells in hippocampus brain slice. We urgently need to develop such micro-devices. In the next 20 years, we should develop various types of ultra-highresolution microscopy with IP rights. Combined with large research facilities such as synchrotron radiation light source, we will develop higher-resolution synchrotron radiation-based micro-imaging technology platform. In the next 50 years we should focus on the development of imaging probes with high sensitivity and specificity which are over 1,000 times stronger than the existing ones, and build up imaging probe synthesis platforms to meet the increasing demand of technologies in life sciences.

Synchrotron Radiation-based Micro-imaging Technology Synchrotron radiation facility can provide high-brightness beam from X-ray to far infrared band. It is a powerful tool to identify micron and nanometer-scale physical characteristics with a very wide range of applications. Taking advantage of the spatial resolution of high brightness and short wavelength of the synchrotron radiation light, we can explore the frontier disciplines of life sciences. Now, pronounced progress has been made in the synchrotron radiation-based micro-imaging technology. In the hard X-ray band, Japan’s Spring-8 has achieved a 30 nm spatial resolution of X-ray imaging; in the soft X-ray band, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Advanced Light Source (abbreviated ALS, USA) has reached the spatial resolution of 15nm. The application of imaging techniques in biology will greatly promote the development of biological disciplines. By making use of the synchrotron radiation light of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility’s (SSRF) high-brightness and optional energy, it will greatly enhance the accuracy for observing the structure and morphology in the life body. Through the synchrotron radiation X-ray micro-imaging and CT scan imaging technologies, we can directly obtain the structure images of living cells. Presently, the application

· 104 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

6.6 Cognitive Science Cognitive science is a multidisciplinary science which studies the nature and mechanism of human and animal intelligence. It covers cognition, learning, memory, logic, language, acquisition of knowledge, attention, affection, and a series of advanced mental phenomena called consciousness. Cognitive science embraces multiple disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, anthropology, etc. The establishment of cognitive science signifies a new era of using modern science and technology to investigate human mental processes, the relationship between brain and mental ability, and artificial intelligence. Since the founding of the American Cognitive Science Society in 1979, major academic institutes and universities in the world have launched research institutes in succession to study cognitive science, and many countries have made cognitive science an important element in their national science strategic plans. In 2000, a research sponsored by the American National Science Foundation and the Department of Commerce reported that the breakthroughs in nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive sciences would accelerate the improvement progress of technology, and perhaps change our species again. Of these breakthroughs, the objective of cognitive science is to disclose the mysteries of human mind, and to create artificial neuron networks (NBIC Report, 2002). Cognitive science concentrates on delivering cutting-edge scientific research that affects the future development of humankind. The integration of advanced brain function, mechanism and rules of learning, special cognition, language cognition, artificial intelligent machines and robots, and discovery of consciousness and other important cutting-edge scientific questions are the keys to uncover the mysteries of the human brain and intelligence. There are a wide 6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 105 ·

Roadmap 2050

of the synchrotron radiation facility in life sciences mainly is focused on the aspects of protein structure analyses. But in fact, on the basis of synchrotron radiation light source, the microscopic techniques are ideally suited for the observation of biological samples, and have very broad application prospects. In cell observation, the soft X-ray microscopy based on synchrotron radiation is able to obtain very high resolution (tens or a few nm). Samples without a complex pre-treatment more truly represented the natural morphology of the organism. This will allow access to a large number of samples and describe the continuous biological processes. The technology can be used to study the protein functional position at the cell and subcellular levels, analyze various elements, identify various specialized structures and detect the distribution of various specific functional groups. Among the first beamline stations at SSRF, there are the soft and hard X-ray microfocus beamline stations for life sciences. The establishment of the two beamlines is expected to make it boom for applied research in this field.

Roadmap 2050

range of future applications of cognitive science. In the field of clinical practice and drug control, research in cognitive science, especially neuroscience, may potentially find ways to cure central nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer dementia, Parkinson’s disease and functional mental diseases, as well as illnesses like stroke and paraplegia that are due to damage in nervous systems. It will also promote our understanding of the underpinning mechanisms of pain, addiction and drug-abuse, and provide solid scientific support to effective management of drugs. In the field of artificial intelligent machines and robots, human needs, emotions, beliefs and values will potentially emerge into capabilities of artificial intelligent machines as a result of cognitive science; and the inventions of highly intelligent machines and robots are expected soon. In the field of learning and education, the retrieval, processing and utilization of information from mass data are important issues in the acquisition, accumulation and distribution of knowledge. Using theories and rules in cognitive sciences to promote effective learning, applying experimental findings to education practice and knowledge distribution, might be one of the best solutions to the research questions resulting from the information explosion. Besides the above three major application fields, cognitive science will also play an inestimable role in enterprise organization and administration, software engineering, mass media, policy making, product design and entertainment industries. Cognitive science shows three developmental trends: first, an emphasis on the influence of environment on cognitive ability; second, an emphasis of convergence of multiple disciplines; third, the emphasis of noninvasive experiment technology. The core content of cognitive science is to understand the structure of brain, along with the process and neural foundations of cognition. The convergence of progress in mental image technology and bioscience and biological technology at the cellular and molecular level, may lead to breakthroughs in research on advanced brain functions, such as language, memory, thought, and emotions.

1. Trends and Hot Topics The following fields will become research trends and hot topics in cognitive science. (1) Human Mind From the moment of birth (and even before birth) till death, the human brain keeps changing in a dynamic process both functionally and structurally. The plasticity of the central nervous system and the decaying symptoms in degenerative diseases of nervous systems are evidence of the dynamics of human mind. Research on the development and decay of cognitive functions is directly related to the improvement of life quality in future human society. (2) Intelligence Progress in cognitive science, especially in cognitive neuroscience breaks · 106 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

(3) Environment, Heritage and Their Interactive Effects on Cognition The developments of brain functions and cognitive structures are influenced by environmental factors, e.g., cognitive abilities are evolutionary adaptations to environmental stress. The mainstream of cognitive science adopts an integrative bio-psycho-social model to examine genetic factors, personality characteristics, cognitive abilities, and brain diseases, and environmental and/or cultural factors. (4) Artificial Intelligence As a result of the expansion of artificial intelligence, it is possible for a machine to carry out tasks that usually involve human intelligence, such as perception, recognition, judgment, reasoning, understanding, learning, and problem solving.

2. Research Facilities Cognitive science adopts research approaches from behavioral science, neuroscience, computer science and system theories, and generates new technologies and platforms, such as cognitive and behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, and computer simulation. (1) Cognitive and Behavioral Experiment Platform Observation and analysis of cognitive activities are the most direct ways to explore behaviors, and they are also the major research methods in cognitive psychology and psychophysics. Recording and analysis of reaction time, psychophysical responses and eye tracking help researchers to understand the cognitive processes between stimuli and behaviors. Equipment and computer systems that stimulate, measure, feed back, and adjust perceptive and cognitive reactions are traditional research instruments for cognitive and behavioral experiments. Even in established experiment methodologies, the increasing requirements for accuracy in the measurement of perception, cognition and advanced cognitive functions demand new technological innovations. (2) Neuroimaging Technology Platform The progress in neuroimaging technologies, from general-adapted, noninvasive neural activity recording technologies, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to technologies in cognitive neuroscience, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), event-related potential (ERP), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), provides a solid technological support to investigate brain structures and functions, as well 6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 107 ·

Roadmap 2050

the limitation of behaviorist theories and behavioral models in studying complex cognitive processes, such as intelligence. Exploring brain mechanisms of intelligence, analyzing the structure of intelligence during cognitive processing, searching for the relationships between nature/nurture and brain and intelligence, are some relatively hot areas in cognitive science.

Roadmap 2050

as human cognitive processes, and allows us to map a direct image of brain functions during cognitive activities. The neuroimaging technology was first introduced to China in 1996 (Li, Ma, & Weng, 1996), and breakthroughs have been made in several different fields. Compared with clinical observations, neuroimaging technologies provide more valid and objective diagnostic measurements of brain activity modeling of diseases, such as drug addiction, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer dementia), and severe mental diseases (such as schizophrenia). Neuroimaging technologies largely enrich our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underneath the neural network plasticity of advanced brain functions. At present, China has already established some research institutes specialized in cognitive science (such as the State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Center for Brain and Cognitive Science, Peking University, and National Key Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University) which are equipped with advanced instruments, such as high-field (3T) magnetic resonance imaging systems and brain neural electrical activity recording and analyze systems, optical imaging system, transcranial magnetic stimulation systems, and data processing and storage networks. Further enhancement of these experimental platforms is a prerequisite for making breakthroughs in China’s cognitive science research. (3)Virtual Reality Experiment Platform The origin and evolution of human cognition rests upon complex information exchanges between human and environment. Cognition directs human to interact with ever-changing environments, in processing massive information in real-time; concurrently, cognition is changed during this interactive process. With the improvement of computation graphic technologies, computer-simulation technologies, artificial intelligence, remote sensory technologies, representative technologies, and network parallel processing, virtual reality systems have emerged as an interdisciplinary technology to expand new research directions for cognitive science. Virtual reality (VR) not only provides highly realistic multi-model information that simulates the natural environment, but also allows researchers to systematically control and manipulate environmental factors and interactive models between human and environment; hence it has significant value in intensive research of human cognition, behaviors, and their relations with the environment. In the world, some leading laboratories have already applied virtual reality systems to conduct prospective research in studying human cognition and behaviors. In China, virtual reality experiment systems have been primarily used in military and national defense research. Virtual reality for cognitive science or related fields is still undeveloped in China. Virtual reality system can create and simulate various complex scenarios and optical presentation modules, especially to visualize real world information for realtime stimulation. It provides an advanced experimental platform for many scientific disciplines, and can be used in many fields, such as special cognition, · 108 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

6.7 Molecular Crop Design The core of molecular crop design, using knowledge of genes of interest or QTLs functions, is to create elite germplasm (design elements) by markerassisted selection (MAS), TILLING and transgenic technologies, and to achieve orderly assembly of multi-gene breeding according to a pre-set breeding objective and selection of the appropriate design elements. Because of understanding of the critical genes or QTLs functions and performing gene transfer with high efficiency, molecular crop design has unparalleled advantages compared with conventional breeding, such as gene transfer and precisely phenotypic identification, shortening breeding period, etc. Although the concept of molecular crop design was just put forward, it has developed into the most advanced productivity leading the progress in crops genetic improvement at home and abroad. Once an integrated system of molecular crop design is established, it can quickly transform the functional genomics research on elite varieties and bring about huge economic benefit. Therefore, the emergence of molecular crop design age is likely to be a rare historical opportunity for the innovation of conventional breeding and then obtaining a major breakthrough in crop genetic improvement in the near future. In the development from conventional breeding to molecular design breeding, it can be initially expected that in the next 20 years, the technologies will be close to perfection for transgenic and elite germplasm innovation in the main grain & oil crops. The integration of molecular markers with safe transgenic technology will bring about highly efficient transfer and aggregation of major genes and their interaction networks, cultivars by molecular design will break through various limitations of the existing varieties and become the mainstream varieties of agricultural production. Further development of molecular design techniques, the level of the product and large-scale application of molecular design varieties will result in sustainable agricultural development, and provide adequate food source for human society. Meanwhile, the special crops and varieties of molecular design will start to efficiently provide other resources in addition to human food, such as clean energy. In the next 50 years, the intelligence varieties will emerge by further developing the techniques of molecular crop design. These varieties can perceive the habitat change in various factors and promote or change the corresponding metabolic pathways in an active, timely and appropriate way to adapt to the habitat changes and maintain the optimal growth and development status, and thus turn out products for the ecological environment protection and human consumption. In the 21st century, revolutionary changes will take place in systems biology and bio-products innovation. The development and application of 6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 109 ·

Roadmap 2050

human-computer interface, cognitive rehabilitation, behavioral observation, education and training.

Roadmap 2050

molecular breeding will be an important part of this revolution. In order to fully grasp and make good use of this historical opportunity, we must directly carry out related studies on the big science and technological innovation. The molecular mechanism of agronomic traits should be further studied to obtain the major genetic resources with the important practical value, distinguish the biological effects of major genes and their up- and downstream gene interactions, as well as the interaction relationship regulation for gene network of different agronomic traits. The knowledge in this case will be motility of innovation in molecular design breeding. We need to further improve the efficient and large-scale molecular chromosome engineering and transgenic technology in order to create elements of traits and crops of molecular design. Moreover, we also should further improve the secure, effective and large-scale GM technology, establish and perfect the infrastructure for traits and variety design, and then increase the output of the varieties of molecular design. In the study of conventional breeding, the breeders select varieties by depending mainly on field experience and phenotype. With the development of molecular design, crop breeding will eventually be a rigorous, repetitive, designing and predictive science, which sets a higher requirement for the infrastructure in crop breeding. Particularly when human beings have increasingly refined and higher demands for crop characteristics, the designing, testing, optimization and assembly all require precise infrastructure. At present, the infrastructure for molecular design has not been even put into operation in China. According to the different breeding objectives in various agro-ecological zones and the different requirements in cultivar characteristics in various sectors (food, chemical industry, energy, environment, etc.), it is recommended that the infrastructure for molecular crop design be built in a professional and systematic way. We should pay more attention to building high-throughput and highly automated facilities for molecular breeding so that the facility can manually run annually and perform a series of functions, such as automatic identification of the target gene according to the design, and automatically integrated selection for target traits. This can evaluate 20,000 rice and wheat varieties of molecular design or transgenic strains per year, form the ability of molecular design breeding for important crop, and finally make them the most advanced molecular breeding facilities to support the sustainable agricultural development in China.

6.8 The Development of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Needs a Big Science Platform Despite the vicissitude development, life sciences have entered the big science age ever since the human genome project started. An important feature of big science is its dependency on high-tech and advanced equipment. · 110 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

6 Life Sciences and Biotechnology

· 111 ·

Roadmap 2050

Recalling the development of life sciences, each progress of technology and equipment has contributed to the disciplinary development. The DNA double helix structure profits from X-ray diffraction technology, ultra-speed centrifuge facilitates the study of proteins, the invention of electron microscopy brings cytology into a new stage, isotope tracer technology leads to a major breakthrough in life sciences, the electrophoretic separation is the most important and conventional method in laboratory analysis of proteins and genes, and the distribution chromatography analysis brings about an extensive change in biology. Thanks to synchrotron radiation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the amount of protein structures to be indentified increases dramatically. The direct observation of the structure changes of Mutl α protein is due to the use of atomic force microscopy; another new kind of microscope image recording technology uses a laser beam for scanning living specimens, captures real-time images, and analyzes the recorded cell movement by a large-scale computing power. These allow humans to see the technological invention which is previously invisible and to help people intuitively understand the complex life phenomena. At the same time, thanks to the rapid development of computer and network technology, the background work of genome sequencing (data storage and computing ability) has also obtained a big leap, and ensures the capabilities of massive data processing. In order to reach the world advanced level or lead the innovative research in life sciences in the world, the needs of large facilities and platform for life sciences have become more and more urgent. In the next 50 years, we are going to gradually launch and establish platforms or infrastructures for new functional genomics with sequencing ability, scale protein identification as well as whole proteomic analysis, a new generation of cell biology research infrastructure, a new generation of information biology, synthetic biology and metabolomics infrastructure, and molecular crop design. Top priority will be given to the tools to be used in scientific research. Therefore, we should focus on the building of infrastructures for life sciences and large science facilities. And what warrants much attention from the Chinese government and Chinese scientists is the innovation of technology and equipment.

Roadmap 2050

7

Resources, Environment and Ecology

With the rapid economic development, China faces increasing pressure on resources and environment. Traditional approaches such as experimental analysis, field monitoring and mathematical simulation are not enough to study complex environmental and ecological problems. The integration of multidisciplinary knowledge, large high-tech scientific facilities and large research facilities will provide an important means to break through research bottlenecks in solving complex ecological problems. It can be expected that, in the next 50 years, large scientific facilities and large research infrastructures will be crucial to make breakthroughs in the fields of ecology and environmental science.

7.1 Geography The earth’s surface consists of closely-related and interdependent spheres including atmosphere, water, organisms and land surface, and has the closest relationships with human beings. Encompassing complex topography, geographical and environmental factors and a variety of surface processes in China, combined with the actual needs of the country in the future, some integrated modeling systems consisting of indoor experimental apparatuses, field insitu experimental equipment, and computer simulation platforms will be constructed to study the key processes in water, mountain hazards, cryosphere and other systems which will have significant impact on China in the future.

1. Cryosphere Modeling Systems The cryosphere, which is mainly composed of glaciers, snow cover and frozen soil locates in mountains and at high altitudes in China. In these areas, transportation and monitoring conditions are very difficult and data acquisition is extremely difficult. However, to understand the dynamic process of the cryosphere and its influence on the water, ecology, environment and climate, H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 113 ·

Roadmap 2050

and to project future changes in cryosphere and its potential impact on China’s sustainable development, comprehensive observations on the dynamic processes in cryosphere and associated climate, ecology, hydrology and environment must be carried out to derive relevant information in cryosphere dynamics and their variations. With knowledge of the past and awareness of the status quo, predicting the future could be possible. At present Glacier No. 1 at the headwater of Urumqi River is the only one that is subject to detailed, long-term monitoring in over 40,000 glaciers in China, whereas for permafrost covering territories of more than 130 million square kilometers, only some scattering sites along the highway of the QinghaiTibet Plateau are under investigation. Obviously, the current monitoring cannot provide more information on comprehensive, systematic understanding of internal processes in cryosphere changes and their interactions with climate, ecology, hydrology and environment due to the shortage of investigation sites and poor representation of current sites; on the other hand, because the cryosphere is a complex affected by climate and topography, and is heavily intertwined with climate, ecological, hydrology and environment, it is difficult to build a crysphere scientific system with solid theoretical basis. Therefore, in view of the current methods and conditions in cryosphere research, it has great limitations on improving and systemizing the cryospheric sciences. The establishment of “dynamic modeling system of surface processes” will make the relevant studies to reflect the reality to a great extent. For example, we could simulate the cryospheric processes in various climate scenarios, glacier scales and types, and terrain conditions, and derive relevant dynamic, thermal and hydrological parameters, or we could model the interactions within the cryosphere between ecology, hydrology and the environment, and learn the relevant processes and impacts. This modeling system can also reveal the dynamic mechanisms in mountain glaciers and permafrost at high altitudes, and explore the interactions between the cryosphere and climate, ecology, hydrology and environment at a theoretical level, and thus provide a theoretical basis for the studies in cryosphere changes and cryospheric sciences. The construction of “dynamic modeling system of surface processes cryosphere change and impact modeling system” will provide a powerful simulation and analyses platform for the studies on Cryosphere changes, which will also enable China’s cryosphere research to jump onto the world stage at an advanced level. At the same time, through the combination of indoor modeling and field observations, the impact of cryosphere changes on water resources in China and other countries, alpine ecology, climate, and environment can be predicted in order to understand the scope and extent of such impacts under different climate conditions. With the help of computer simulation systems, we can include the socio-economic development into the cryosphere changes and impact systems, and analyze the socio-economic impacts of cryospheric changes on sustained development. The cryosphere modeling system can, therefore, provide an alternative and important scientific basis for adaptation of

Roadmap 2050

the impacts induced by cryosphere changes in China, particularly in the western region.

2. Water Cycle and Hydrological Process Modeling System The land surface hydrology and related atmospheric, ecological, soil, environmental and anthropogenic interactions are the scientific bases of sustained and rational use of water resources. The comprehensive hydrological modeling including indoor experiments, field observations, and numerical modeling of the land surface processes is one of the current international geographic focuses, which is not only an important method for the land surface process study, but also an essential component of the ecological monitoring network and an indispensable element in ecological construction and environmental management. Water cycle processes studies depend on both field observations made through in-situ investigations and targeted measurements, and indoor modeling consisting of physical models and computer simulations. On-site visits and targeted observations can draw scientific questions and obtain basic data. However, due to the complexity and uncertainty of nature, with all the elements staggered together, this information alone cannot solve the scientific problems of terrestrial surface water and soil processes. So it is imperative to conduct indoor experiments and analyses to ascertain the proportion of the impact from various elements. The simple model may help to understand the basic mechanisms. The more complex the model is, the more knowledge we can obtain about the scientific question. Ultimately we can learn and quantify all the processes and their impacts. The water-land processes in the evolution of land surface have become a subject of extensive research. However, the time used is extremely short, and the area that can be observed is very limited, so the researchers have to study the spatial and temporal evolution using numerical simulation or empirical extrapolation, which is a very effective way to supplement the data-scarce scientific observation. Carrying out water-soil process modeling experiments, on the one hand, is a powerful tool to improve the land surface system study; and on the other hand, it is an integral part of land surface system and processes studies. The land surface water and soil process modeling system offers several advantages: large reduction of the time and space scales and improvement of the understanding of the processes of surface evolution; testing of the assumptions of development and evolution of the surface; estimation of the evolution pattern and rate of prototypical surface carriers using modeling results from the experiments; investigation of the disastrous and dangerous surface processes and increase of the safety of surface process study; and observation of some microgeomorphologic processes which generally cannot be measured in the field, with the use of advanced measurement techniques. “The water cycle and hydrological process modeling system” consists of integrated research facilities including land surface water-soil process experimental devices, water cycle field observing network, and water cycle · 114 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

3. Sloping Surface Dynamic Modeling System Due to the strong surface mass transfer and frequent mountain hazards in mountains in West China, some serious environmental problems and disasters significantly threaten the mountain towns, the traffic lines, the water conservancy and hydropower projects, the oil and gas transmission pipelines and national defense facilities. In East China where the situation is better than that in the western part of China, avalanches, landslides, mudslides, flash floods and collapsing are also frequent, and should not be overlooked because of its dense population and developed economy. Relevant observations, experiments and studies are needed to understand the mountain surface mass transfer and formation mechanisms of concurrent mountain hazards, erosion, transportation and deposition mechanisms, etc. In China, most of the larger projects, both the current and planned ones, including the hydropower projects, the oil and gas transportation projects, and the high-speed traffic arteries are located in the west, they are all confronted by the target disaster prevention and engineering safety issues in the construction and operation. So mountain hazard prevention and engineering safety protection have become a key component in the construction of these projects, and need to be addressed urgently. The migration of mountain surface materials and a variety of mountain disasters are not isolated processes, and often form a mass transfer and disaster chain. For example, in a watershed, collapse, landslides and soil erosion upstream provide good physical conditions for debris flow, and with the help of surface runoff, the debris flow occurs. During the process of moving downward, the debris flow strengthened by strong soil erosion and surface runoff turns into a flood or hyperconcentrated flow when draining into the downstream or the main river. Therefore, the solution of the mountain surface mass transfer and mountain disasters requires comprehensive modeling experiments. Due to the complexity of the mountain systems, small scale experiments cannot reflect the overall characters of the mass transfer and mountain disasters, and the 7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 115 ·

Roadmap 2050

comprehensive modeling system. The building of a multi-scale, indoor and outdoor, multi-path water cycle observation and experiment network in China and the surrounding regions will improve the observational capabilities of land surface water cycle processes, deepen our understanding of the water cycle processes, and derive long-term, continuous and high-quality observational data in land surface water cycle processes, and thus further reveal the mechanisms of the water cycle on various scales against the background of climate change and human activities. On the basis of an integrated water cycle observing system in China, the law of water resources transformation under the interaction of natural water cycle and social water cycle will be depicted, and a regional integrated water cycle model establisshed. To provide theoretical and technical support for water security to aid the long-term development of China in the future, there is a need to develop an environmentally friendly water regulation theory and a high efficient water resources regulation means.

Roadmap 2050

establishment of large integrated modeling systems is of great importance in revealing the material mechanism of migration and mountain hazards and studying the process of mass transfer and preventing the mountain disasters. In “the sloping surface dynamic modeling system”, dynamic modeling on the mountain surface mass transfer chain, expressed as landslide (slope erosion)-debris flow-hyperconcentrated surface water, will be applied for each unit watershed, and on the basis of which, a comprehensive modeling system dealing with the processes in mass transfer dynamics, disaster dynamics and disaster chain evolution can be established. This modeling system will provide comprehensive experimental and modeling facilities for studies on mountain surface dynamics, disaster prevention and mitigation, and soil and water conservation engineering technology, and facilitate the development of relevant theories and technologies.

7.2 Resources Science and Ecology As China enters an important period of building a moderately prosperous society and accelerating the modernization process, the constraints from natural resources and ecological environment become more and more prominent, which changes from flexible to inflexible, from short-term to long-term, from local to national, and from reversible to irreversible. The impacts from such changes are profound. During the last 30 years since the economic reform and opening to outside world, China’s rapid economic growth has incurred heavy environmental costs, and the problems of environmental degradation and shortage of resources have become increasingly serious. Economic growth at too high expense of environment has topped the list of today’s biggest environmental problems in China. Integration of ground-based observations with satellite remote-sensing observations, vertical observation facilities consisting of space-based monitoring and ground-based observations, and GIS-based digital research systems for data-model integration has become the mainstream of large-scale research facilities in the field of resources science and ecology, and will constitute an important component of large infrastructures that sustain the developments of modern science and technology. The current research focus of ecology, environmental science, resources science and sustainable development has shifted to reveal processes and mechanisms for the changes in the earth’s major ecosystems, to reveal important scientific problems in the fields of resources science, ecology and environmental science on the regional and long term scales; and to implement integrated studies of different time and spatial scales with new discipline combination, innovative methodologies, and modern research tools. For example, the establishment and operations of the Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), the Earth Observing System (EOS), the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS), the Global · 116 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Fig. 7.1 The conceptual diagram of US National Ecosystem Observation Network (NEON)

National Ecosystem Observation Network (NEON) NEON, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), is a national observational network aiming at the regional to continental-scale important environmental issues. The goal of NEON is to clarify the causes and consequences of environmental change and forecast the trend of environmental change and the corresponding countermeasures through network-based observations, testing, research and comprehensive analysis. It is also an educational platform for ecology and environment, which includes 17 regional sub-networks. The completion of the network will promote the development of ecology, personnel training and the protection of biological and ecological security of the United States. NEON focuses on six most serious environmental challenges currently at the national level, i.e. biodiversity, species composition and ecosystem function, ecological effects of biogeochemical cycles, ecological connotation of the climate change, ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, invasive species and land-use and habitat loss. NEON is composed of six national networks which address these issues, respectively.

7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 117 ·

Roadmap 2050

Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) supporting longterm ecological research (LTER) and the National Ecosystem Observation Network (NEON, Fig. 7.1), UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) and the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network ( CERN) have accumulated a wealth of scientific data for modern ecology, environmental science, resource science, earth sciences and sustainable development science, and these research facilities are playing irreplaceable roles in the development of these scientific disciplines. With continuous improvements and developments, these ground-based research networks will play an increasingly important role.

Roadmap 2050

The research of ecology and earth sciences in the 21st century pays more attention to manipulating ecosystems and managing adaptively the environment and resources, besides their traditional roles for discovering new phenomena, interpreting natural laws and revealing mechanisms. The major trends of the current international developments in ecology and environmental science can be summarized as follows: Mitigation and adaptation to global climate change have become the focuses of the earth system sciences; The relationship between ecosystems and human well-being is becoming the main target of many ecological studies at international scale; The integrated studies of ecosystem-human activity interactions and natural-economic system relations are becoming the main solutions to global ecological problems; Serving regional and global sustainable development has become the social responsibility of all ecological researches; Quantitative assessment and scientific projections of eco-environmental changes are becoming the ultimate objective of today’s ecological research endeavors; Network observations, simulation experiments and virtual modelings of ecosystem processes are becoming important means for integrated studies of today’s environmental and ecological issues. Synthesis, forecasting and providing service are the main objectives of the earth system sciences in the 21st century. With the globalization of their research subjects and the elongation of time scales for their research progresses, the development of ecology, environmental science and resources science in the 21st century enters a new era, when the combination of cross-regional networkbased ground observations and satellite remote sensing is the main technical means; the quantitative and modern information technology function as important research methods; the establishment of regional and global sustainable ecosystems is the main goal of research; and the effective implementations of large international scientific projects are supported by network observations, simulation experiments and virtual numerical modeling. Therefore, the establishment of China’s ecosystem and environment ground-space threedimensional monitoring network infrastructure will play a very important role in the developments of national science, technology and society. This network infrastructure may include:

1. China’s National Ecosystem Observation and Research Network We shall develop and improve ground-based and satellite remote sensing three-dimensional observation systems to gather data on environmental changes, and build a full range dynamic observation and experimental research network (similar to the United States’ NEON) that will gather data on the ecosystem carbon, nitrogen, water fluxes and their stable isotope compo· 118 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2. China’s Special Environment Observation and Research Network We shall develop and improve ground-based and satellite remote sensing three-dimensional observation systems in China’s special environment; organize long-term monitoring and experiments on cryosphere dynamics and processes, energy-water cycle processes and space physics processes, and interactions between soil and vegetation in cryospheric regions (Chinese cryosphere and polar regions); and study the mechanism of interactions between the cryosphere and climate, hydrology and ecology, to provide basic data services for national policy-making on issues like climate change projection, sustainable development of water resources, ecological protection and restoration. Major equipment include high-resolution gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (HRGC / HRMS), liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), MALDI tandem time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF), nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (600 MHz) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and so on.

3. China’s Atmospheric Constituents Spatial Distribution Lidar Observation Network We shall build a laser radar network that covers the typical area of our country, and monitor the physical and chemical properties of the atmospheric composition (CO2, CH4, O3, SO2, NO2, water vapor, aerosols and clouds) (including the stable isotope composition) in the boundary layer, the troposphere and the stratosphere and the vertical distribution and variations of relevant meteorological variables (temperature, wind, etc.), and study their spatial and temporal distribution structure, variations and main factors in order to lay a theoretical basis of physical chemistry and dynamic processes for the establishment of an environment and climate change model. We shall develop environment and climate change research models with four-dimensional distribution of atmospheric constituents, and carry out the studies on the impacts of regional environment and global climate change and prediction using the above-mentioned four-dimensional distribution model, and make fundamental and strategic contributions to the environmental diplomacy and global climate change research.

7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 119 ·

Roadmap 2050

sitions, the impact of global climate change, the biological diversity, and the biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and the eco-environmental changes of key representative regions in China. This observational and research network will provide valuable information for governmental policy-making on sustainable utilization of national resources, energy-saving and emission reduction, international negotiations on greenhouse gases and carbon trades, which will promote China’s scientific and technological progress in ecology, environmental science, resources science, earth sciences and global change research.

Roadmap 2050

7.3 Environmental Science With the rapid development of China’s economy, the challenge to environmental protection becomes more and more serious. New environmental problems emerge while the old ones have not been completely solved. The next 50 years will be a critical period for the modernization of China, which will be also a period filled with most serious conflicts between development and environment. The tasks for environmental protection will be very tough during this period. In order to build an environmentally friendly society, we must come up with effective ways to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pollutants on human health especially in cases where we cannot reverse the trends of environmental pollution with current economic and technological capacities. During recent years, great achievements have been made in the study of relationship between environment pollution and human health thanks to the advance of new concepts and technologies in the fields of molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology and endocrinology. Current research in this field has experienced the process of development from individual to organelle, to cell and to molecular level on the one hand, and from individual to ecosystem and to entire earth on the other hand. However, we still lack full understanding of the mechanisms for potential effects of environmental pollutants on human health, especially the systematic mechanisms for the toxic impact of key environmental pollutants. As a result, the prevention and cure of harms to health caused by environmental pollutants are seriously impeded. Only when the multiple mechanisms for potential effects of chemical pollutants in the environment on human health are revealed can we address the key issues related to the prevention and cure of diseases and provide scientific guidance in this regards. Multidisciplinary research on the relationship between environment and health involves the aspects of environmental pollution chemistry, environmental toxicology, hygienics, genetics, biology, preventive medicine, etc. In order to conduct in-depth research on health impact of environmental pollutants and provide scientific basis for setting up state-level policies, we must unite researchers from different fields, strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation and complementation, and continue to improve technology innovation and integration. At present, most institutions for environmental heath research in China have very narrow focuses and few multidisciplinary interactions. This situation prevents the systematic study of health effects caused by environmental pollutants. As a result, limited support can be provided when state policies are made for these areas. The environmental pollution and health impact research platform will integrate the related research efforts, intensify the building of infrastructures, experimental technology platforms and research teams, and provide firstrate instruments, equipment and related supporting systems for systematic study of the relationship between environmental pollution and health by · 120 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

1. Infrastructures to Be Constructed The infrastructures here refer to those necessary for the study of environmental pollution and health effect. This research platform includes one environmental sample bank, two cell culture rooms and two low temperature operation rooms for biochemical testing. The environmental bank will be used for long-term collection and storage of typical environmental samples (e.g. soil, sediment, air, water and biological sample). Recognized as an important means for long-term monitoring of environment, the environmental bank can be used to conduct traceable testing and monitoring of the changes in environmental pollution to better understand the temporal and spatial eco-environmental processes. The proposed environmental bank will collect and store the environmental samples of representative values, and will be divided into soil bank, surface and below ground water bank, sediment bank, atmospheric deposition bank, etc. A preliminary bank for wildlife will be established during the early stage, which will be used to collect and store fresh water fish, lake and ocean bivalves, wild birds and other biological samples. The environmental bank consists of warehouse, storage equipment and sample preparation equipment. Samples of different quality require different grades of purified laboratories as well as different storage environment. In addition, the environmental bank should have sample preparation equipment such as freeze-drying machines, sample grinding systems like ball grinding machines. An environmental bank with systematic and rational design is critical to researchers who study paleo-environment, but may require a large investment.

2. Experimental Research Platforms to Be Constructed Experimental research platform is a key component of the environmental pollution and health impact research platform, which will provide a wide range of instruments and equipment for studying the interactions between environmental pollution and its impact on health. It includes the testing platform for environmental pollutants, the toxicological research platform, and other routine testing instruments. The testing platform for environmental pollutants will be used to test the physical and chemical parameters of various environmental pollutants and their distribution and allocation in different media. This platform will house a series of large instruments such as high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometers (HRGC/HRMS), liquid 7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 121 ·

Roadmap 2050

focusing on technology innovation and integration. With such a platform, multi-disciplinary research teams can be organized to tackle the key issues related to environmental pollution and associated health impact, make forward-looking, basic and strategic breakthroughs in related research fields, and provide scientific and theoretical basis for formulating state policies on environment and health. The ultimate aim of such a platform is to prevent, cure and reduce related diseases and improve public health. The main content of the environmental pollution and health impact research platform includes:

Roadmap 2050

chromatography-mass spectrometers (LC-MS/MS), MALDI tandem time-offlight mass spectrometers (MALDI-TOF/TOF), nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR, 600 MHZ), inductively coupled plasma coupled with mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), etc. The toxicological research platform is used mainly for studying the ecotoxicological impact of environmental pollutants, especially the toxicological mechanisms for pollutant impact, principles for causing toxics and diseases and possible impact of pollutants on human health. The goal is to reveal the causes, mechanisms, development processes and transformation patterns of diseases resulting from environmental pollutants at molecular and genetic levels. The main instruments include living cell work stations, millimeter-wave electron spin resonance spectrometers, intravital microscopes, high resolution magnetic force microscopes, flow cell sorters, fast protein identification systems, protein crystal diffractometers, etc. In addition, it also needs other routine testing instruments such as HPLC, GC-MS, enzyme mutil readers, various types of microscopes, centrifuges, ultra-cold freezers, etc.

7.4 Earth Science Deep earth exploration facilities will become the eyes of scientists to understand the deep earth and reveal the mystery of interior earth. The environmental drilling and monitoring networks installed on the shallow layer of the earth that facility the energy and material exchange between the interior and exterior earth, can be used to explore the interactions among various spheres of the earth and to protect the ecological environment for human beings. Therefore, the construction of monitoring systems for the deep and shallow earth environment will play a revolutionary role in the development of earth system Science.

1. Exploration Systems for Physics and Chemistry of Continental Lithosphere China and the neighboring mainland were formed through gradual agglomeration between ancient Craton and small continental blocks, which have undergone intensive construction and transformation of magmatic activities in Mesozoic and Cenozoic, possessing a complex history of formation and evolution. The complicated background of resource formation as well as changeable environment, climate, disasters and other natural conditions in Chinese mainland today can be attributed to the complex history of continent formation, especially the evolution of continental lithosphere. Thus, the exploration of physical and chemical properties for Chinese mainland lithosphere is critical for obtaining a fundamental understanding of our living conditions, and for making strategic decisions on resource utilization and environmental transformation. The big science epoch requires analyses and investigation of massive in· 122 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2. The Drilling and Monitoring Network for China’s Environmental Science With the global warming and the increasing impact of human activities on the environment since the industrial revolution, changes in the climate and environment have become worldwide concern over the earth science. Because of its instability, the East Asian monsoon climate plays a unique role in the global climate system. During the last 2.6 million years, changes in the East Asian monsoon climate were closely linked with the evolution of human beings and social development. Since the late Cenozoic era, the Chinese continental environment has been divided into different zones of special properties, with three ladder-like topographic features from high west to low east. In the southern eastern monsoon moisture region, the northwestern inland arid region and the Tibetan plateau region, there are unique and plentiful materials for environmental research, such as loess, lake and swamp sediments, ice cores, stalagmites, tree rings, etc, which have recorded the changes in the natural 7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 123 ·

Roadmap 2050

formation (data), and the exploration of continental lithosphere needs high precision, high resolution monitoring and testing on a large scale, which will result in a series of innovative thoughts, new visions, and higher demands. Based on the concept of big science, we shall establish the exploration systems for physics and chemistry of continental lithosphere by adopting the probes from geophysics for exploring the underground, the detectors from geochemistry for revealing the matters in the lithosphere, and the scales from high temperature and high pressure experiments to measure the status of materials in the interior earth. This key research facility will improve our capacities to explore lithosphere and to conduct under earth research projects. This in turn will enable our scientists to promote the social progress by taking advantage of their understanding of natural laws, and make it possible for us to stand at the forefront of research on physical earth science in the world and to make strategic, fundamental and forward-looking contributions to the social development. The scientific goal of the exploration systems for physics and chemistry of continental lithosphere is to establish testing, monitoring, experimental facilities and research platform for the exploration and investigation of lithosphere in typical regions of mainland China and the adjacent areas. The exploration facility is composed of the systems for three-dimensional imaging of earth matters and their structures, for studying the four-dimensional composition of the geochemical spatial-temporal scales at key locations, for the age and mapping of thermal status, and for mechanistic high temperature and pressure experiments as well as mathematic simulations. After conducting long-term and multi-stage research on the lithosphere using this facility, we shall not only obtain cutting-edge knowledge about the formation, evolution and the dynamic mechanisms of the lithosphere in mainland China, but also initiate the exploratory and prospective studies on the mineral resources and new energy in the earth kinetic systems.

Roadmap 2050

environment and the evolutionary history of human civilization. Systematic acquisition and integrated research of these environmental records will not only promote the advance in the studies of theories for the East Asian Monsoon systems and of the earth’s shallow layer environment, but also play important roles in improving the human living environment and maintaining sustainable development of human societies in both the monsoon and western arid region, where the inhabitants account for about 90% of the total population of China, and in revealing the patterns, mechanisms and trends of environmental changes in the earth system. The drilling and monitoring network for China’s environmental science is designed to build an environmental monitoring network for continental shallow layers in China through systematic drillings in the earth’s shallow layers. This network will help to form a research team composed of some wellknown domestic and foreign scholars from related fields with the middle-aged researchers as the main body for interdisciplinary studies, and to establish a famous and opening research center for the earth environmental sciences. The main contents of this network include, 1) the scientific layout of 11 crucial reference wells and 27 basic wells, which will become real-time monitoring wells of standardized, normalized, and modernized futures by adopting the advanced and mature technologies; 2) the establishment of a specimen bank of cores for the storage and study of environmental cores, with highly automatic management systems, including the earth’s cores and specimen banks, the preparation and testing equipment for cores, the data-processing platform and the network information system, and 3) the establishment of environmental monitoring station network, which will provide real-time information of field drilling stations, digital multimedia information bank and related retrieval-platform for specimen of shallow continental layers, and dynamic data on dynamics of environment and resources in continental shallow layers. The specific goals of this network are 1) to establish spatial-temporal patterns of climate and environmental changes since the late Cenozoic, 2) to reveal the trend of natural environment dominated by Monsoon-Arid climate and its relationship with Tibet Plateau uplift, and 3) to establish the relationship between the rapid change in Monsoon-Arid climatic events and global climate through scientific drilling to unveil the macro-patterns of China’s environment and through the studies of multi-high-resolution environmental carriers. In addition, the real-time high-resolution images of current and past environmental changes can be obtained to establish the models for the temporal and spatial changes in climate and environment, to reveal the coupling mechanisms for the arid-moist environment and Tibet Plateau uplift, and to propose new hypotheses regarding the surface processes in the earth’s surface. Finally, drilling, well logging and dynamic monitoring of the earth’s surface will directly serve the exploration of natural resources and environmental protection, the investigation of the discrepancies and trend of the Tibet Plateau’s responses to global warming in the monsoon-arid regions, and the improvement of the · 124 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Enviromentally sensitive zone

? 

? 

Fig. 7.2 Diagram for the locations of drilling wells and monitoring network

7.5 Oceanography With the highest biological diversity and quite abundant submarine oil and natural gas hydrate, the South China Sea (SCS) and the coastal waters are the important routes for ocean shipping and barriers for maritime security. These regions are crucial for China to develop into a strong maritime power. Thus, it is urgent and imperative that we select suitable submarine areas to construct deep ocean labs, which will enable us to develop pivotal equipment and technology for monitoring deep oceans. The proposed field stations should combine with ship-navigation and remote sensing to initiate stereoscopic observations and monitoring of the changes in marine environment and resource distribution to better understand the characteristics, patterns and variations of marine environment and resources’ distribution. China is a major maritime country, and ocean will play an increasingly important role in future socio-economic development. The State Long-term Scientific and Technological Development Plan (2006–2020) requires that a long-term submarine observation network be established to achieve new developments and breakthroughs in marine science and technology. Such a network will provide new insight into a variety of physical movement processes under the sea with the development of undersea surveillance techniques, the building of undersea long-term observation network, and the monitoring of the 7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 125 ·

Roadmap 2050

environment and ecological constructions in China.

Roadmap 2050

northeastern part of the South China Sea seabed environment. Meanwhile, it will provide new perspectives and methods for marine scientific research. It will be a major development as well as the greatest revolution in the field of marine science and technology. In recent years, there has been a rapid advance in sensor technology, sound systems, high speed communication, nanotechnology, natural analog technology and other scientific technologies. Social needs, coupled with the advance in technology encouraged oceanographers to enter a brand-new field: long-term and sustained seabed observing network, instead of traditional monitoring stations currently in use. After decades of discussions, with the aim of long-term and real time observation of the earth and ocean process in the northeastern Pacific region, and the realization of the interaction between scientists and various seabed natural phenomena, the United States and Canada have been working to set up a 200,000 square kilometers of submarine active fiber optic network system since 2007. Their main research fields include oceanic crust movement and earthquake research, seabed chemistry and geological research, ocean climate change and its impact on benthic biota, and seabed ecological diversity research. In addition, the Japanese and European seabed observing network programs are also now in the implementation phase. The South China Sea and East China Sea are two major marginal seas of China with a total area over 5 million square kilometers. They connect the Western Pacific through the Ryukyu island arc, the island of Taiwan, the Luzon Strait and the Philippine island arc. They play an important role in China’s economic development and national defense. The China undersea observation network which is centered in the South China Sea spans from the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean though the Luzon Strait and Ryukyu Trench. This network uses active fiber optic cables as a frame and is connected with all kinds of sensors such as marine-earth, geophysics, physical oceanography, chemistry acoustic, biology, ecology, etc. Data collected by the sensors are interacted and then sent to the terminals of scientists, teachers and even normal users through internet to bring about long-range and allweather observation and interaction with the ocean in multi-parameters. We can predict that after the establishment of China’s undersea observation network, the observation data within a year will enormously exceed the sum of the data collected before. The establishment of China undersea observation network will tremendously promote the development and combination of relevant disciplines like marine geology, marine geophysics, marine physics, physical oceanography, marine chemistry, marine biology, marine ecology, military oceanography, etc., play an active role in expediting the marine engineering construction, offshore oil and gas exploration and development and national security. Meanwhile, it will also promote the advancement of science and technology in China. The core project of the Undersea Observation Network System is the Undersea Workstations in the South China Sea to be constructed. According to plan, three undersea observation stations will be built and connected with · 126 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

7 Resources, Environment and Ecology

· 127 ·

Roadmap 2050

the roadbed labs using network. They are used for long-term observations of underwater cold springs (resources), crustal movements and earthquakes in deep sea (disasters), ocean internal waves and underwater targets (national defense) respectively, to serve the major national strategic requirements. The Undersea Workstations in the South China Sea are aimed at long-term observations of submarine cold springs and life communities, crustal movements and earthquakes in deep sea, and ocean internal waves and underwater targets (macro-organism groups, plankton communities, submarines, etc.). The ultimately improved station in the South China Sea mainly consists of three parts: the undersea observation network, the submarine network security maintenance system and the roadbed system. The key technologies of the whole station involve the connection of the underwater sensors and the power supply. The undersea observation network is mainly composed of the trunk line, the interactive observing network and the node modules. The undersea network maintenance system is composed of research ships, underwater robots, etc. The roadbed system mainly consists of the network center, the shore-based laboratories and the distributed client components. Active fiber optic cables can provide a variety of sensors with electric power uninterruptedly to ensure that the sensors connected to the submarine network work with long-term stability. At the same time, the undersea fiber optic cables send the data collected by a variety of sensors to the land base. In addition, the directives issued by scientists to any sensors of the undersea network can be transmitted by the undersea fiber optic cable. On the other hand, the submarine cables play an important role in offering support such as energy to the underwater robots. The interactive observation network can cover the region of space to be studied in space and spans, and can be closed or open. There are many hubs connected to the interactive observation network, which then links the basic sensor groups. Each sensor group has a variety of functions, and can observe the activity of crust, cold springs and life communities, circulation and internal structure and water targets. It is worthy to note that the density and distribution of the hubs should meet the scientific needs and the capability of backbone network. The undersea network security maintenance system includes research ships and underwater robots. This system should be able to complete a range of missions such as the laying of submarine networks, sensors installation and the network connection as well as recovery, offshore drilling, sampling, underwater positioning and underwater communications.

Roadmap 2050

8

High-tech and Others

8.1 Overview of High-tech High-tech is a kind of frontier science & technology which is based on comprehensive scientific research. It can bring about huge economic and social benefit. Nevertheless, it is a relative concept which has different meanings at different time, in different countries, or in different fields. Modern science and technology develop so fast that high-tech of today may no longer be high-tech tomorrow. In the 1950s transistor computers belonged to high-tech fields, integrated circuit computers take their place today, but tomorrow it may be replaced by optical integrated computers. A traditional technique in developed countries may still belong to high-tech fields in developing countries, e.g. automobile, aircraft manufacturing and so on. Therefore, different countries have different understanding of high-tech. A national high-tech roadmap should be made according to the scientific and technological level, the industrial manufacture level and economical level of the country. High-tech is not a single technology, but a complicated system of science, technology and engineering, all these elements interact, complement, and promote each other. From the view of technical structure, high-tech is a sophisticated technique whose main principles are based on the advanced scientific achievements and modern science & technology. This is different from the traditional technology which is the accumulation of experience. If it is viewed from time, high-tech is a new technology which is based on the latest achievements of technologies, from the view of relationship with science, high-tech is a technology arising from scientific discoveries [8], that is to say, high-tech is the science-based technology. Strategic high-tech is a kind of high-tech which has important strategic significance. It is the concentrated expression of national scientific and technological innovation capacity today, the important technical foundation of the new high-tech and also the key point of international competition in science, H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

8.2 Relationship between High-tech and Large Scientific Facilities There is an interdependent and mutual promotion relationship between high-tech and science. High-tech needs science. Scientific research is the forerunner of high-tech, the support and backing to high-tech, and a means for training high-tech talents as well. Meanwhile, the development of high-tech is the driving force and source of scientific research. With the swift development of science and technology, the difficulty and complexity of scientific research are increasing. Therefore, scientific and technological personnel in different subjects are required to participate in a given scientific research which calls for a large investment and a lot of scientific and technical personnel. This kind of scientific research cannot be accomplished just by an individual, a department or in a small-scale research style, therefore big 8 High-tech and Others

· 129 ·

Roadmap 2050

technology and economy. Large scientific facilities are dedicated research facilities which are indispensable for the development of strategic high technologies of a country. High-tech is a developing concept. In addition, people’s understanding of high-tech differs because of their different social backgrounds and theoretical framework. According to China’s actual conditions, the National High-tech Research and Development Program (Program "863") chooses eight areas as high-tech, namely, information technology, biotechnology, new materials technology, energy technology, agricultural high-tech, advanced manufacturing technology and automation technology, ocean technology and civilian hightech. The Torch Program chooses nine areas as high-tech: electronic information technology, new materials technology, biological engineering technology, new energy technology, aeronautics and space technology, advanced manufacturing technology, nuclear application technology, ocean technology and environmental protection technology. The National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Scientific and Technological Development (2006—2020)[9], divides high-tech into eight parts, namely, biotechnology, information technology, new material technology, advanced manufacturing technology, advanced energy technology, ocean technology, laser technology, and aeronautics and space technology. The guiding thinking for developing our country’s strategic high technologies is to adhere to a scientific outlook on the all round, coordinated and sustained social and economic development, to face the strategic requirements of our country's economic and social harmonic development and national security and to face the development of frontier science and technology in the world, to strengthen key technical innovation and system integration and to strengthen forward-looking strategic high technologies.

Roadmap 2050

science appears. Large scientific facilities are not only the important platforms for big science research, but also the traction power of high-tech development. Large scientific facilities are integrated by a large number of high technologies. They often require great improvement of the existing technology in order to meet their scientific and technological needs in construction and use of the facilities. Large scientific facilities are also the cradle of high-tech and high-tech industries. Some new technologies are developed simply for scientific research at the very beginning, no one will expect its social or economic value. But it may produce unexpected results once appropriate opportunities offer[10]. Let us take network technology for an example, which led to the last economic boom of the United States in the 20th century. It originated from the study of data processing technology for particle physics research at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) at the very beginning. It was invented in order to deal with huge amount of data and make all participants immediately access to these data for physics research. Nowadays, network has become a global high-tech. In fact, similar technology has long been used in nuclear weapon research for U.S. army, but not made public.

1. High-tech is a Necessary Condition for Building Large Scientific Facilities During the 1940’s and the 1950’s, the third scientific revolution occurred because of the significant breakthroughs in scientific theory and social development. Breakthroughs were made in every area of science and technology. New subjects emerged with various fields of science and technology being more holistic and integrated, such as nuclear technology, aeronautics and space technology, microelectronic technology and others. As a consequence, this scientific revolution gave rise to the emergence of large scientific facilities. The revolutionary character of those facilities does not mean to produce a lot of knowledge, but to solve significant scientific issues. Their scientific and technological objectives must aim at the frontier science in the world and the requirements of the country so as to make strategic, fundamental and forward-looking contributions to national defense construction as well as social and economic development.

2. High-tech Advancement Promotes Construction of Large Scientific Facilities The emergence of new principles and new technologies one after another promoted the construction of the next generation of large scientific facilities and had a revolutionary impact on the development of science and technology. Let us take nuclear energy for an example. The famous physicist Rutherford expressed his view in New York Times by claiming that nuclear energy was useless. However, as the study of nuclear physics deepened, especially the discovery of nuclear fission, the use of nuclear energy immediately became an important issue that attracted worldwide attention. And nowadays, it has become a high· 130 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

3. Construction of Large Scientific Facilities Promotes the Development of High-tech Any large scientific facility itself is actually the integration of high technologies. In order to increase the performance ability of a large scientific facility, it often needs to upgrade the existing technology by using new principles and new technologies in the course of its construction, operation and maintenance. A large number of high-performance devices, mostly non-standard, are needed as well. Thus lots of pre-researches in the period of engineering design and construction are necessary. This remarkable characteristic of a large scientific project gives a strong impetus to the development of high-tech in every field and social progress. Furthermore, large scientific facilities in operation are essential platforms for further development of high-tech. Numerous scientists from research institutions or companies carry out experiments on those platforms, which have greatly improved the capability of scientific research on some basic frontiers and high-tech, resulting in countless scientific discoveries and inventions. The opening of the facilities has expanded the academic exchange and cooperation between China and other countries, and contributed to the development of related disciplines and their intersection. The large scientific facility in materials field, which is an experimental system to evaluate the safety of the materials serving in the major projects, is being constructed in China. A simulation acceleration experimental device will be built to study the engineering materials and large construction serving behaviors under special and complex 8 High-tech and Others

· 131 ·

Roadmap 2050

tech, which is the greatest hope for us to solve energy crisis. Research on nuclear energy now turns from fission to fusion, and a number of large scientific facilities have been established for it. Initially, people aimed at producing commercial energy from fusion by using the 'tokamak' concept of magnetic confinement, such as ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor). Nowadays, inertial confinement fusion (ICF) has become one of the most promising options to obtain nuclear fusion energy since laser was invented with its high monochromaticity, directionality and brightness. Therefore, the United States, the European Union, Japan and other countries have built such large high power laser devices. The construction of the world largest laser device, the National Ignition Facility (NIF), was completed on March 31, 2009 by the U.S. Department of Energy. The first large laser target experiments were performed in June 2009 and ignition experiments are expected to begin in 2010. Currently the entire Laser Mégajoule (LMJ) system in France, which is as powerful as its US counterpart NIF, is expected to be completed in 2012. China also stands at the forefront in the world in this regard. The Shenguang II (SG-II) device, which is the most powerful experimental device in operation in China, is one of the few highperformance, high-power solid-state laser devices in the world. It is China’s important experimental platform for ICF in the near future. These laser devices are all large scientific facilities, which benefited from high-tech advancement.

Roadmap 2050

circumstances. The data from tests will be used to evaluate the safety of the major projects’ structures, engineering materials and how long they could serve. It may tremendously reduce the loss caused by the failure of materials. It will serve extensive fields, such as energy, electricity, transportation, petroleum and petrochemical industries, and water conservancy projects as well. Accordingly, materials and engineering science of China will advance by leaps and bounds by using this facility, and it will also help to choose materials, evaluate their safety and predict their lifetime for major projects in China.

4. High-tech and Large Scientific Facilities Are Complementary to Each Other Large scientific facilities are integrated by multiple disciplines and a number of high technologies. They are advanced public technological platforms supporting the development of multidisciplines and interdisciplines and constitute important components of the national innovation system which have a powerful capacity for research & development and international competition. And in addition, the facilities themselves are the products of international competition. High-tech and large scientific facilities complement and promote each other. To vigorously develop large scientific facilities in high-tech field can effectively enhance China’s scientific and technological strength.

8.3 Large Scientific Facility Roadmap in High-tech Field Science and technology has permeated every field of the social life since the 19th century. Big science research develops in frontier fields in every respect and deepens at the micro-and macro-level, and provides scientific and technological support necessary for social development. Especially, the completion, operation and use of many large scientific facilities in the world have been gradually showing their irreplaceable capability in the scientific and technological field, thereby attracting more and more scientists and governments to plunge themselves into the construction of large scientific facilities. Large scientific facilities cover almost all the fields in high-tech, among which biological technology, advanced energy technology and ocean technology have been described in previous chapters. The roadmap of big science in laser technology, aeronautics and space technology, new material technology and advanced manufacturing technology will be introduced in this section with emphasis falling on the current status, development plans and outlook of large scientific facilities both at home and abroad.

1. Laser Technology Laser exhibits its special "coherence" that any other kind of light cannot own. Thanks to the coherence, laser is able to be well focused and transmitted · 132 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Output Power (by billion watt)

1000

NIF in USA (in construction) SG-III in China

100

OMEGA in USA

LMJ in France (in construction)

Nova in USA 10 Gekko-XII in Japan SG-II in China 1

0

Shiva TIL for SG-III in China Vulcan in UK Argus Dolphin in Russia Cyclops

0

Janus Long Path 0.01 0.1 Output Energy (by million jouls)

1

Fig. 8.1 The energy and power comparison of SG Lasers and other laser facilities for ICF (from Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Over the past 10 years, it has been possible for laser pulse to have high power and high brightness. “Fast ignition” will open a new way approach. If successful, the fast ignition approach could dramatically lower the total amount of energy needed to be delivered to the target. Several projects are currently under8 High-tech and Others

· 133 ·

Roadmap 2050

in a better way that incoherent light cannot do well. It has been applied to basic research, industrial production, and national defense. Thousands of gain media for laser have been discovered with the wavelength ranging from soft X-rays to far infrared. The core of laser technology is laser. Lasers with smallsize have already been widely applied in industry, while the large laser systems with high-energy and high-power are built as platforms for basic research. The fact that high temperature and high density plasma will be produced by the interaction of high-energy laser and some materials was not only an amazing scientific discovery, but also closely related to nuclear research and application. NIF (1.8MJ, 192-beam laser) is the largest and most energetic ICF device built to date in the world, and the first one that is expected to reach the long-sought goal of "ignition", producing more energy than was put in to start the reaction. LMJ(1.8MJ, 240-beam laser), a similar project in France, has seen its first experimental line achieved in 2002. Both of them are due to completion around 2010. Several projects are currently underway to explore the fast ignition approach, including upgrades to the OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester, the GEKKO XII device at the Osaka University's Institute for Laser Engineering. There are other laser devices like Vulcan laser at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's Central Laser Facility in Oxfordshire, England, and LULI in France. The laser facility underway in China is SG-II at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics. It indicates that China has been one of the few countries capable of building large laser drivers.

Roadmap 2050

way to explore the fast ignition approach, including upgrades to the OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester, the GEKKO XII device in Japan, the “Vulcan” laser in UK, the Titan laser system of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of the United States, the FIREX-I(Fast Ignition Realization Experiment) of Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE), Osaka University, Advanced Radiographic Capability PW laser device for NIF, PETAL laser in France and the European high-power experimental research facility HiPER (High Power Laser Energy Research). SG-II is also being upgraded in China. Large high-power laser devices are also platforms for high energy density physics, plasma physics, and astrophysics research besides laser fusion research. In SPIE European Conference, held in Prague, Czech Republic in April 2009, a seminar about “A New Generation of European Laser Devices: beyond the Petawatt” was organized and discussed openly by senior staff in planning Europe-wide Petawatt laser systems (1015W and above). The plan for large laser projects was discussed as an essential topic at the conference. It indicates that the roadmap of high power laser facilities in Europe is the main component of European high-tech. In the next decades, China will build high power laser experimental facilities based on SG-II and other high field laser facilities, to achieve the output of nanosecond pulses with tens of thousands of joules and picosecond or even femtosecond pulses with power-scale of the order of Petawatts. It will also be able to generate ultra-short coherent X-ray laser, fusion neutron beam and electron or proton beam with high-power. The roadmap of large scientific facilities in laser technology of high-tech field is illustrated as follows: To meet the application requirements of laser technology with high-power and high-energy in principle.

To complete the high-power laser experimental system substantially.

To meet the requirements of strategic high-tech and other fields in other areas by upgrading the exiting techniques.

To make key technology of fast ignition driver and basic researches get off the ground.

To build Fusion-Fission Hybrid Reactor laser-driven experimental verification system.

To build Fusion-Fission Hybrid Reactor laser-driven demonstration system for power generation

2010

2020

2030

Laserdriven fusion researches achieve the level of commercial power supply in principle.

2050

%'@'$ [         \ 

· 134 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

As mankind enters the 21st century, space has become the strategic high ground of competition in developed countries. In order to prevent or at least reduce the huge losses in national economy, defense construction and aerospace industry resulting from severe weather, more and more countries have been attempting to deploy space environment as a prior and basic scientific area with strategic and forward-looking importance, which is substantially related to national security. The space science and technology is a strategic high-tech that indicates the scientific and comprehensive capability of a country. It can fully reflect the country’s strategic will and greatly influence all aspects, like politics, economy, science and technology, and security of the country. As a comprehensive, integrated strategic high-tech, space science and technology not only involves mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geography, biology and other basic sciences, but also many high-tech fields, such as information, automation, modern energy, advanced manufacturing, and novel materials. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the aeronautics and space technology is the highly integrated high-tech of modern science and technology. Furthermore, it functions as a driving and promoting force of other areas. In the field of space exploration, “the Double-Star Program” is a joint satellite-based space mission undertaken by China National Space Administration (CNSA) and European Space Agency (ESA). By taking advantage of two satellites - an equatorial satellite (TC-1) and a polar satellite (TC-2), the DoubleStar follows in the footsteps of ESA’s “Cluster mission” to study the effects of the sun on the earth’s environment. After a nominal mission of one year (from the launch of TC-2 in July 2004), the Double-Star mission had already been extended twice by both agencies till the end of September 2007. It is the first cooperation between ESA and CNSA. It is also the first space mission launched by China to investigate the earth’s magnetosphere. The proposal and construction of the basic and important facility, known as “Space Environment and Ground-based Integrated Monitoring Network”, is a major milestone in the field of aeronautics and space technology in China. It is estimated that the facility will cost 750 million RMB and its construction will last about four years. This project contains a space-based system (including a small satellite for monitoring the thermal and ionosphere layers, and providing scientific and technical reference for satellite navigation, satellite communications, and remote sensing), a ground-based system (a “well”-shaped network for monitoring the ground-based environment, which is based on the “Meridian Project”), the construction and improvement of ground-based data receiving equipment (stations), data transmission networks, and other ground-support facilities, data and information service centers (building a space weather data and information services system among the monitoring, researching, forecasting, users and government departments, on the basis of the existing data center). Through the establishment of the digital near-earth space platforms and 8 High-tech and Others

· 135 ·

Roadmap 2050

2. Aeronautics and Space Technology

Roadmap 2050

data information service center for China’s high-tech escort, fundamental and significant contributions can be made in reducing the damages of catastrophic space weather to national defense and civilian industry, such as aerospace, communications, navigation and electric power systems. According to the “White Paper on China’s Space” released by CNSA and the development trend of international space technology, the roadmap for the development of China’s aeronautics and space technology in high-tech field till 2050 [11] is shown in Fig. 8.3.

To establish subsystem of Space Environment and Ground-based Integrated Monitoring Network. To Develop space observation simulation platform.

2010

To realize simulated network platform for the Earth system for general operation with high-tech support service. To develop a moon-based observation platform.

To build large-scale scientific facility for deep space mission by independent innovation, international cooperation, and other kinds of ways.

2020

2030

2050

Fig. 8.3 The roadmap for the development of aeronautics and space technology in high-tech  $ ]

In the next decade or some time later, China will make great efforts in developing an earth observation satellite system of long and stable operation, establishing a satellite broadcasting and communications system and a navigation & positioning satellite system managed independently by ourselves, and building a new scientific exploration and technological test satellite system. According to China’s overall planning, a fundamental establishment composed of a variety of satellite systems with multi-functions and multi-orbits will be accomplished in the next decades. Besides, a coordinated and complete heaven and earth satellite ground application system as well as a complete, continuous, long and stably operating earth integrated network system for monitoring and functioning as a simulation platform will be completed.

3. New Materials Technology New materials are also called advanced materials. They are characterized by sophisticated knowledge, intensive high technologies, superb properties, high quality and great stability, but without stressing the scale of production. New materials can be divided into the following aspects: electronic information materials, new energy materials, nano materials, advanced composite materials, advanced ceramic materials, eco-materials, new polymer materials, biomedical materials, high-performance structural materials, smart materials, new construction and chemical materials. The technology is a crux in the modern industrial and high-tech development, and its progress can promote the development · 136 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

8 High-tech and Others

· 137 ·

Roadmap 2050

of technologies regarding information, energy, national defense, agriculture and advanced manufacturing. That is why it is called the foundation of high-tech". Therefore, all countries in the world, especially the developed countries put new materials technology in a special strategic position. For example, since the mid-1980’s, the United States has spent 100 million dollars each year on studying advanced materials, especially the metal composite materials. Among the 42 large scientific facilities currently owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, three are dedicated to the study of materials, i.e., the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN), and the Center for Nanoscale Materials. Besides, the advanced light source and the advanced neutron source are both important facilities for materials science and technology. In the roadmap of the European research infrastructure involving materials science, there are seven projects, including a high-power laser infrastructure (Extreme Light Infrastructure, ELI), Pan-European Research Infrastructure for Nano-Structures (PRINS), the upgrade of the facilities at the Laue-Langevin Institute (ILL20/20), etc. In addition, the European Union plans to construct an infrastructure for the research of nano-structures and nano-electronics (Pan-European Research Infrastructure for Nano-Structures). The facility is a distributed infrastructure based on three European countries (Belgium, France and Germany), and involves three research institutes, which are the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC), the Electronics and Information Technology Laboratory of the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA-LETI), and the Fraunhofer Microelectronics Alliance. It will promote the progress of the field of nano-electronics and the integration of nanoscale structure in Europe. Britain also plans to carry out the application of nanotechnology mini-processing facilities. Reliable statistics show that we have conducted a deep study and exploration in the field of nano-technology in our country. The core papers published by our country's researchers mostly focus on two fields: "particle physics and cosmology," and "nano-technology", in which the latter accounts for 25.4%. A number of large public experimental platforms for new materials research have been accomplished in our country, such as the early Beijing Electron Positron Collider, the Hefei Synchrotron Radiation Facility, as well as the newly built Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, but up to now, no planning has been made for a special large scientific project for the study of nano-technologies. Furthermore, many developed countries have established pipelines, wheel tracks, nuclear islands, and other full-sized structures for large-scale simulation of accelerated testing. All these have played important roles in establishing safety assessment methods for large projects, improving their safety and economizing on them. The research in our country started quite late in this regard. In the 12 large national scientific and technological infrastructures during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan", there is one project related to the establishment of an experimental setup for the safety evaluation of engineering materials in vital projects, which has been introduced in the former section. The investment in

Roadmap 2050

this project is about 5 million RMB and the construction period is 5 years. According to the current development of new materials technology in our country, the roadmap for developing large scientific facilities for new materials technologies in high-tech field in China from now to 2050 is shown in Fig. 8.4. To build a safety evaluation research facility for engineering materials in vital projects step by step

2010

To improve and enhance the operation capabilities of large scientific infrastructure related to materials based on the devices to date. 2020

To build materials design and control system gradually based on the life-cycle cost management, and to develop new materials

2030

2050

%'@'^ [                \  ]    $

4. Information Technology Information technology includes everything related to information, such as all the technologies for information production, collection, storage, processing, circulation and applications, as well as the related methods, tools, materials, and equipment. It also includes the skills of information workers, tools concerning information, the objects of information workers, and so on [12]. It has had a deep impact on the global socio-economic development. With the combination of other technologies, it will contribute to the emergence of many new technology fields with great potential. Information technology will develop toward the direction of high properties, low cost, ubiquitous computing, and intelligence. Seeking novel computing and disposal methods, and the ways of physical realization are the major challenges in the field of future information technology. The overlapping and merging with many other subjects, such as nanotechnology, biotechnology will promote the development of a “people-centered” information technology, which is based on the characteristics and the understanding of images and natural language. It will also promote the innovations in many fields. Besides the establishment of various facilities for high-performance computing and data-processing, the communications network infrastructure has also been developing rapidly. The network technology of the United States has led the world since 1945. As early as 1985, the basic research for a network working-level distribution system supported by the American National Science Foundation started. With the development of technology and the change of requirement, it was reorganized in 1997 and in 2003, respectively. It is no exaggeration to say that the progress in network technology of the United States represents the world's pattern of development. Fig. 8.5 shows the development pattern of the network technology from 1985 when the network’s working-level distribution system was built to · 138 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

Roadmap 2050

the near future. Cyberinfrastructure TCS, DTF, ETF

Terascale ITR

Information Technology Research NSF Middleware Initiative

NMI NPACI and Alliance

PACI NSF Networking Prior Computing Investments

Supercomputer Centers |

1985

|

1990

SDSC, NCSA, PSC, CTC

|

|

1995

2000

|

2005

|

2010

Fig. 8.5 The network technology development since 1985 (Photo source: the U.S. NSF report on Cyber infrastructure for PPT)

The Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), whose upgrade is regarded as one of the current priorities by the U.S. Department of Energy, is a large national network serving thousands of scientists and their collaborators worldwide. The network has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science in order to help the agency fulfill its mission of promoting scientific exploration and innovation. In addition, since 2007, the Polar Program Office of the U.S. National Science Foundation has been supporting the preliminary study on the future communications and energy supply capacity of the South Pole Station (OPP project), in order to increase the energy supply of the existing energy supply system by 500—7500 kW, upgrade the existing satellite (which is aging) to be one for commercial communications, explore the use of NASA's next-generation satellites for communications, or build high-bandwidth network. As one of the main researching tools in Europe, the communications network infrastructure has been developed over two decades. Based on the national research and education network, all European universities and research organizations are sharing the same communications facility, where the Pan-European network is the GEANT network. Research groups can obtain special advanced services, such as the information about international research projects, including the end-to-end optical circuits in the LHC experiments or a virtual personal network function, the European astronomical equipment network, or supercomputing cluster platform. At the same time, following the international situation, NSFCnet has been established in our country since 1999, which will be a milestone of the next generation of Internet in China. In 2003, the National Development and Reform Commission and the other seven ministries initiated the China Next Generation Internet Network (CNGI).[13] It is undertaken by six network operators including the Chinese telecommunications network, and comprised of 100 uni8 High-tech and Others

· 139 ·

Roadmap 2050

versities, 100 research institutes and more than 70 enterprises, in which CNGICERNET2 is supposed to be built as the largest pure IPv6 network in the world. The roadmap forecasting the development of large scientific facilities in hightech field in China from now to 2050 is shown in Fig. 8.6.

To develop key technologies related to the network and information facilities.

2010

To develop large-scale scientific facilities of network, computing and other information technology areas independently

2020

To gradually improve the information technology large facilities for basic research and high-tech development 2030

2050

%'@' [               \  in China from now to 2050

5. Advanced Manufacturing Technology Advanced manufacturing technology contains all technologies that can realize high quality, high efficiency, low consumption, cleanness and flexible production to improve the competitive and adaptive ability in the market. It synthetically applies the basis of traditional manufacturing technologies and the achievements in mechanical, electronic, information, materials, energy, and modern management to the whole process in product design and manufacture.[14] The development of advanced manufacturing technology tends to be information-based, extreme-oriented and pollution-free. Thus this development trend will become the survival foundation and the key for sustainable development of the future manufacturing industry. In Australia, the advanced manufacturing technology is included in the prior field with high potential and support has been intensified, with top priority given to develop the manufacture of advanced materials (including nano-materials), the biological and chemical synthesis, preparation and rapid prototyping of former business, and nano-manufacturing related to micro-electronics, photonics, optoelectronics, and integrated optics. In this field, we are still in the stage of research and exploration, and there is still a long way for us to go before reaching the leading world level. Up to now, we have not had the required significant scientific and technological infrastructure. Therefore, our short-term objective is to develop the corresponding key technologies first, and then proceed with the exploration and development of the important infrastructure in this area step by step. The roadmap of developing China's large scientific facilities for advanced manufacturing technology in high-tech field from 2010 to 2050 is shown in Fig. 8.7.

· 140 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

2010

To develop large-scale scientific facilities by developed information technology, self-control technology, microelectronics and other technologies. 2020

2050

%'@' [    ] _              \  $ $

General Developing Trend of Large Scientific Facilities in China's High-tech Area Different development strategies will be adopted for different strategic high technologies and in different technological development stages. Take information technology for an example. Proliferation strategy should be adopted to let information technology stimulate industrialization in the areas related to the sustainable development of our country, such as energy and ocean, as well as in some high-tech fields including biology, materials, nanotechnology; a leaping development strategy is to be adopted to foster new high-tech growth points with strong international competitiveness in the high-tech fields of aerospace, lasers and so on, which not only involve industrial competiveness but also national security; a new independent innovation strategy is to be developed to accelerate the formation of our own technological innovation capability; and some high-tech aspects with comparative preponderance should be chosen, an integrated strategy adopted and major projects launched with all strengths concentrated on them to make important breakthroughs. The medium-term development objective in our country is to form a national innovation system of strategic high-tech around 2020; to gradually form and perfect an operation mechanism in high-tech industries, which suits the China market economy; to develop the comprehensive capability to solve major scientific and technological problems involving all-round coordination and sustained development, and to form the international competitiveness in technology which conforms to the rapid economic development in our country; and to support and promote the building of a moderately prosperous society and the modernization process. We should make great breakthroughs in the fields of information, biology, key materials, etc. to realize a leaping development in technology and industry, and stand among the advanced countries in these high-tech areas; reach the world advanced technological levels in aerospace, nuclear, nano-science, strategic energy and so on; provide technical foundation for revolution in military affairs and national security, and foster new industrial growth points. The development of high-tech will impact the social production, the life style and the way of thinking in human society. In the next decades, the requirement of large infrastructures from the development of these technologies will become more and more urgent. We should aim at enhancing the capability 8 High-tech and Others

· 141 ·

Roadmap 2050

To develop vigorously key techniques related to advanced manufacturing technology.

Roadmap 2050

of independent innovation, center on the major national needs, and take into account the international development trends to select and arrange a number of key projects which are beneficial to improve the core and key development capability of high-tech. 2010

2020

To balance the development of key technologies in high-tech fields through large-scale scientific facilities in energy technology, laser technology, space technology and other comparative developed areas.

To devote major efforts to developing large-scale scientific facilities of China in pressing need in high-tech area

2030

To develop the large-scale scientific facilities of all areas in high-tech based on strongly improving those of developed and desired areas

2050

To build a powerful scientific and technological innovation system for missions of international scientific leadership in some areas

%'@'@ [         \  $ ]

· 142 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

9.1 Intensify the Efforts to Make and Manage the Planning of National Infrastructures 1. Make Med- and Long-term Planning of National Infrastructures as Soon as Possible This report describes the macroscopic ideas regarding the development of national large research infrastructures and analyzes the requirement of facilities from relevant scientific and technological fields in the view of scientific and technological personnel without taking great pains to study any specific projects. It is suggested that the departments concerned make a project-specific operable planning for the development of national large research infrastructures in the shortest time possible. The purpose of planning is to select appropriate projects according to the strategic and overall consideration so as to make necessary up-front work which creates conditions for the subsequent decision on selection of projects, and the approval of proposed project and construction. According to the timescale of the current development of science and technology and that for the preparation prior to the approval of the proposed infrastructures and their construction afterwards, it is suggested that the duration of planning be 15 or 20 years, and that of the approval and construction of a given project be 5 years.

2. Strengthen the Management of Project Planning and Effectively Promote Its Implementation When planning a project, the plan for up-front work (prior to the project approval) should be made, and the preparation effectively completed before the project is approved, including further extraction of the scientific goals and preliminary study of key technologies. One of the important reasons why many projects specified in a “five-year plan” have not been carried out by far lies in the H. Chen (ed.), Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050 © Science Press Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011

Roadmap 2050

9

Proposed Policies and Measures

Roadmap 2050

lack of up-front work. We should learn a lesson from it. To keep tracking and assess the up-front work is an important measure to ensure the implementation of the planning. Based on the change and deepened understanding of the circumstances when tracking and assessing the projects, necessary readjustment should be made in the planning by eliminating the inappropriate projects and selecting the projects with mature conditions for the submission of approval and construction. Under the current funding management system for science and education in China, there must be a funding channel through which to support the preliminary study of planned projects. The preliminary study, especially that of the significant technological innovation projects requires a relatively large cost, but the existing funding channels for science and technology can hardly support this kind of study in terms of the amount of money required. After the project planning is made, it is suggested that the preliminary study and cost of each project be reviewed and jointly supported by the earmarked funds for infrastructures and the sponsoring department of the project.

3. Strengthen Dynastic Study and Management of Planning The medium- and long-term planning of the infrastructures should be reviewed regularly according to the social and economic development of the country as well as the advance of science and technology in the world, and corresponding readjustment be made according to the changed circumstances and a better understanding of them. This is also the common practice of all countries in the world.

4. Set up a Planning Organization Which is Responsible For Making and Managing the Planning Considering the features of large investment, wide applications and a large number of departments involved, it is suggested that a planning organization be set up with the departments in charge of the state planning and capital construction serving as the leader to undertake the planning and management of projects.

9.2 Strengthen the Management of the Whole Life Cycle of Infrastructures The whole life cycle of infrastructures contains three periods: preliminary study prior to the project approval, construction and operation & use. It is imperative to strengthen the management of the whole life circle of infrastructures in order to ensure the construction quality, fully develop the benefits from construction, and reasonably control the overall scale. The management of the whole life cycle requires that the characteristics and focal points of management in different life cycles be grasped with full · 144 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

9.3 Establish the Management Norms Suitable for the Characteristics of Infrastructures 1. Formulate Norms Governing the Management Relating to the Construction of Infrastructures as Soon as Possible The infrastructures to be constructed belong to the large- and mediumsized capital construction projects. They involve many studies, tests and technological breakthroughs in their designs and construction, and thus have a clear duality of engineering and scientific research. By far China has not established a norm governing the management relating to the construction of infrastructures according to this feature. It is suggested that the country formulate the norms in this regard as soon as possible. Particular attention should be paid to solving the following problems in these norms: the funding channels to support the preliminary study of the planned project; reasonable determination of the fund 9 Proposed Policies and Measures

· 145 ·

Roadmap 2050

vision, the assessment of the scientific vitality of facilities valued, and a scientific decision made on the development of facilities. Upon completion of the infrastructures, the focus of work is to operate, open and use them. Meanwhile, their performances must be incessantly improved and upgraded, and the support capabilities of the experimental terminals, etc. developed. Only in this way, can their vitality and international competitiveness be maintained. Generally speaking, the current funding level for operating these facilities is appropriate, but the resources for their openness and use and subsequent development are insufficient obviously. Enough attention should be paid to this issue and efforts made to solve it. To this end, the life cycle of the facilities should be assessed carefully before the project approval, the plans for predictable follow-up development and upgrade reviewed preliminarily when determining the construction plan, and the subsequent funding required after the construction assessed carefully when determining the construction cost. With the increase in the number of research infrastructures, the money which goes to the subsequent development will account for an increasing proportion of the total investment to be made in these infrastructures. Only in this way, can the overall scale of the facilities be controlled at a reasonable level and the follow-up input of the completed facilities ensured. An important problem in managing the whole life cycle is the assessment of the vitality of facilities. In the operation and utilization of these facilities, not only should the performances be assessed, their scientific potentials and the feasibility for their further development should be examined as well from a higher angle. Based on the assessment, it should be decided whether to give a steady support, augment the support, or make significant upgrade, or even retire them.

Roadmap 2050

for preliminary study and test of the project, and the arrangement following the project approval; reasonable readjustment of the cost estimate and budgetary estimate according to the progress of the feasibility study and preliminary design; reasonable determination of the contingency based on the risk assessment of project; differentiation between the acceptance specifications and the design specifications for highly sophisticated projects through the review of experts and check of these two kinds of specifications respectively in the project acceptance test and the post-project assessment, etc.

2. Establish the Scientific Management System and Operation Mechanism to Promote the Opening and Sharing of Infrastructures Opening and sharing are the cores in managing infrastructures. From the very beginning of up-front study, users’ opinions should be heeded in order to ensure that the construction of the facilities satisfies the requirements of users. Upon completion of the facilities, they should be managed by national laboratories, and an organization and a mechanism be established, allowing users to supervise and participate in the review of decisions on important issues.

9.4 Reinforce the Cultivation of Talents and Teams for Infrastructures The cultivation of talents and teams for infrastructures is characterized by team spirit and assembly. The construction of infrastructures requires not only scientific and technological leaders, but also a large team with reasonable professional structuring and talents at various levels. This team contains highly qualified scientists, engineering and technological experts, project management experts, and also a lot of engineering, technological and supporting personnel. It is imperative to establish a sound system and mechanism, and to formulate reasonable policies so as to attract and retain the personnel at all levels and bring their initiative into full play. Since the number of people required during the construction will far exceed that during the operation of the facilities, it is necessary to establish an appropriate employment mechanism so as to make the best use of talents and human resources available in society during the construction of the projects. Meanwhile the cultivation and use of talents should be considered as a whole by breaking the boundaries of organizations throughout the country.

· 146 ·

Large Research Infrastructures Development in China: A Roadmap to 2050

[1] [2] [3]

[4] [5] [6]

[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]

DOE Office of Science. Facilities for the Future of Science, A Twenty-Year Outlook. http:// www.er.doe.gov/Scientic_User_Facilities/ Large Facilities Roadmap by Research Councils UK. http://www.berr.gov.uk/les/le14569.pdf The Science Council. Statement on Nine Large-scale Facilities for Basic Scientic Research and on the Development of Investment Planning for Large-scale Facilities. Germany. http:// www.wissenschaftsrat.de/texte/5385-02.pdf The Department of Energy Strategic Planning. http://strategicplan.doe.gov/hires.pdf The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures. European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. http://cordis.europa.eu/esfri/roadmap.htm The Study Group for the Development Strategy of Large Scientic Facilities of CAS. Study of the Strategic Development of China's Large Scientic Facilities and Proposed Policies. In June 2003 (in Chinese) National Medium-term and Long-term Development Plan for Science and Technology. 20062020 (in Chinese) Concept of Information Technology and Classification Study. Jiaotong University Journal. Social Sciences. 2008, 3: 89-92 (in Chinese) Liu Zesheng. Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Scientic and Technical News. 2008, 10: 40 (in Chinese) Fang Xueqin. Study on the Position of Large Scientic Facilities in the Development of Science from the Distribution of Subjects. Science & Technology Review, 2004, 3: 24-27 (in Chinese) Wang Zhangzhong. New Century, New Materials and New Technologies. Nanjing Engineering College Journal, 2002, 2: 45-48 (in Chinese) Let Us Work Together Towards Science. Collection of Series Reports on Science and Technology by One Hundred Academicians (in Chinese) Revolution of Science & Technology and Modernization of China. Science Press, Beijing, China (in Chinese) The Development Roadmap of China’s Space Science and Technology up to 2050. Science Press, Beijing, China (in Chinese)

Roadmap 2050

References

Roadmap 2050

Epilogue Since the planning for the development of large research infrastructures has great impact on the national innovation ability in science and technology and the national development strategy, it has to be made with caution. The planning of large scientific facilities of every developed country is readjusted with the development of the situation. For instance, in 2007, the Department of Energy, USA fully updated its milestone plan “Facilities for the Future of Science-ATwenty-Year Outlook” released in 2003, with the priorities of 28 new pejects including those to be upgraded, revise and readjusted. It is the same case with Britain whose “Large Facilities Roadmap” released in 2003 is revised every two years. Since the first accelerator in the world was built in the 1920’s, the energy of accelerator has increased by 9 orders of magnitude in the past 70-odd years. Thus, it can be seen from this that the recent development trend of large research infrastructures is relatively easy to determine, and that some forwardlooking suggestions can be made for the mid-term development whereas the long-term development cannot be accurately foreseen. For the long-term development, we can only analyze its development trend and put forward some key scientific and technological problems that may or must be broken through. There is a great difficulty in studying “China’s Large Research Infrastructures Development Roadmap to 2050”. So this study report only reflects the study group’s understanding of the large research infrastructures in relevant fields. The feasibilities and priorities of specific projects are to be further studied and reviewed by experts in relevant fields. With the rapid development of science and technology, breakthroughs will be made in new technologies and new national demands raised in the coming decade or several decades. Therefore we have to regularly review and make corresponding readjustment of this Roadmap according to the development of our country’s social and economic development, the relevant planning for strategic high-tech development and the development trend of science and technology in the world. Strategic Study Group of Large Science Facility of the Chinese Academy of Sciences August, 2010