Analysing Mega Science Vision-2035 for Nuclear Physics through Space Sector Perspective | Part-1
On December 13, 2023, The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (O/o PSA to GOI) released the Mega Science Vision-2035 (MSV-2035) Report for Nuclear Physics. The MSV-2035 Exercise has been undertaken by the O/o PSA in six areas: High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Accelerator Science & Technology and Applications, Climate Research, and Ecology & Environmental Science. The MSV-2035 Nuclear Physics Report serves as a comprehensive “Roadmap” prepared by the national nuclear physics community, with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) acting as the Nodal Institution, outlining their expectations and aspirations for mega science activities till 2035.
The progress and advancement of previous Mega Science Projects identified in earlier Vision exercises in terms of both implementation and finance prompted the moment to initiate the next phase of the Mega Science Vision (MSV) Exercise. Previously, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science & Technology (DST) had been facilitating such exercises in specific disciplines, but this time considering the prominent role of O/o PSA in S&T policy-making and coordination within the Gol as well as foreign S&T bodies, a decision was reached to entrust the oversight of the Exercise to the O/o PSA. Consequently, the focal point of activities shifted to the O/o PSA to GoI, led by Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, the former PSA, to initiate MSV-2035. The continuity of this initiative was then seamlessly carried forward under the leadership of Prof. Ajay Sood, his successor.
While the initiatives outlined for the MSV-2035 Nuclear Physics are primarily focused on advancing nuclear physics research, several implications, benefits, and potential synergies can extend to the Indian space sector. The simultaneous intertwined development of nuclear and space programs in India can be traced back to the post-independence era. The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was also set up in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy only to spearhead space research activities. It was not until almost a decade later in 1969 ISRO was established and not until 1972 the Department of Space (DoS) was established and brought ISRO under DoS. Nuclear research has led to advanced shielding and protection technologies, crucial for safeguarding astronauts and spacecrafts from cosmic radiation and currently, ISRO is also a user of facilities such as BARC-TIFR Pelletron-LINAC Facility, TIFR, Mumbai and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), DAE, Kolkata.
Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, often regarded as the father of India’s nuclear program, played a pivotal role in establishing the TIFR and the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). Concurrently, the INCOSPAR was established under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, also known as the father of India’s space programme. Both initiatives were driven by a vision to harness advanced technologies for the benefit of the nation. The mutual emergence of these capabilities was not coincidental; rather, it reflected India’s strategic imperatives. The nuclear program was driven by security concerns, with a focus on achieving deterrence capabilities. Meanwhile, the space program aimed at leveraging space technology for socio-economic development, communication, and resource management. The two programs shared a common thread in advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovation.
So in the initial part of this article series, we will look at the recommendations made by the report concerning Infrastructure-Building Initiatives. Following is the Summary of Recommendations on Infrastructure-Building Initiatives for the folks who couldn’t read the whole report or even segments:
A. Detector and Accelerator Research and Development:
- Establish National Detector Development and Training Centres (NDDTC) at strategic hubs in nuclear physics activities.
- Develop a world-class multi-purpose underground laboratory facility to attract and host Mega Science Projects (MSPs).
- Identify and open research reactor facilities.
- Construct a state-of-the-art photon beam facility with a 10 PW capacity for nuclear physics research with extreme electromagnetic fields.
B. Centre for Nuclear Theory (CNT):
- Set up a Centre for Nuclear Theory (CNT) to create an inclusive and diverse research environment for theoretical scientists.
- Initially, CNT will operate in a virtual mode and later transition into a physical facility at an appropriate location.
- Facilitate collaborations with experimentalists through workshops and visitor programs.
C. High-Performance Computing:
- Build four big data centres around the country for Nuclear and High Energy Physics.
- Achieve a total computing power of 100 petaFLOPS (PFLOPS) and storage systems of 250 PB.
- Recognized the additional need for 500 PFLOPS computing power for the Plasma Physics Program.
- Provide scientists with access to high-performance computing resources to handle large datasets and sophisticated analysis tools.
D. Human Resource Development Programs:
- Acknowledged the critical role of trained human resources for Mega Science Projects (MSPs).
- Widen the expertise of scientists and engineers to cover areas related to MSP activities.
- Organize regular training courses, including accelerator physics, detector and instrumentation, medical and radiation physics.
- Increase the number of Ph.Ds and job opportunities in the field of Nuclear Physics in universities, IITs, IISERs, and other research institutes.
- Recommended the formation of an Indian Nuclear Science Society to foster collaboration, communication, and advancement in the field.
How Indian Space Enterprise and the Indian Nuclear Physics Community can join forces together?
Well, both the sectors are already working together, one of the best examples of that is the successful ISRO Aditya-L1 Mission, carrying Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX) and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payloads designed to study the solar wind and energetic ions, as well as their energy distribution, among total 7 payloads to study the Sun. Although the scientists might have collaborated, any explicit participation information of any DAE institute could not be found in the mission details, apart from TIFR which was part of the technical meeting.
Similar to how the Defence sector has been an integral part of the emerging Indian Space Enterprise consisting of ISRO, IN-SPACe, DSA, DRDO, NITI Aayog, PSUs, Private Industry, Academia and Industry Associations such as-Indian Space Association. Through iDEX-DIO, the Defence Services are offering Defence Space Challenges to businesses and startups to help them develop the necessary dual-use sophisticated technologies. The Nuclear Physics Community especially BARC, DAE also needs to interact with organisations such as IN-SPACe and ISpA, to facilitate projects to develop dual-use technologies with the help of the private space sector. Companies such as L&T Defence, Inox CVA, Bit Mapper, ECIL, and BEL are already serving both sectors.
Based on the roadmap, the proposed Indian Nuclear Science Society prioritizes more on fostering research & development and academic programs and not with interactions with the industry. The majority of the scientists involved in MSPs will come from colleges, institutes, and universities, which will put a strain on UGC and Ministry of Education. As a result, funding will be a challenge. A way forward could be to collaborate more with DRDO, ISRO, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and the newly formed National Research Foundation which will soon subsume SERB which funds a lot of university projects. Another approach would be to interact and collaborate with the already participating private industries in nuclear technologies such as L&T, Inox CVA, Kiroloskar, BEL, ECIL, Bit Mapper, IClean, Hind HIVAC, NFTDC, etc. serving stakeholders such as TIFR, BARC, IPR, DAE, SINP, IGCAR, PSUs-NPCIL, UCIL etc. We will go deeper into the proposed funding and evaluation structures, the projected phase-wised funding requirements and project management structures in further articles.
Some mentioned proposed present and potential future collaborators in the report were:
- For Space Technology: ISRO Labs (VSSC, SAC, URSC), SLT Ltd.
- For Defence and Aerospace: DRDO Labs (ARDE, TBRL), ATIRA — Ahmedabad, GFSU–Gandhinagar, DRDO labs, ISRO labs, L&T Defence, Bharat Forge, Godrej Aerospace, etc.
- For Energy Sector: IIT Gandhinagar, GP Green Energy Sys Pvt. Ltd.
NTPC, SECIL, EIL
Physicist Societies and Associations will also serve an important role in Human Resource Availability and Knowledge and Information Dissemination for both the Nuclear and Space Sector - such as the Indian Laser Association (ILA), Indian Physics Association (IPA), Indian Network for Dynamical and Unified Solar Physicists (INDUS), Indian Society of Atomic & Molecular Physics (ISAMP), Indian Vaccum Society (IVSNET), Indian Planetary Science Association (IPSA), Astronomical Society of India (ASI), The Plasma Science Society of India (PSSI), Indian Society for Mass Spectrometry (ISMS), Materials Research Society of India (MRSI), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Association of Computer Machinery (ACM), Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), The National Academy of Sciences India (NASI).
A nationwide multidisciplinary research and development program focused on plasma applications is also being proposed by the committee. Through this program, professionals in the fields of medicine, hospitals, agriculture, aerospace, waste management, textiles, defence, space, industry, academia, and other fields will be closely collaborating.
Following are some scenarios where I see the potential implications, benefits, and synergies between the Infrastructure-Building Initiatives and the Indian Space Enterprise:
Technological Advancements and Transfer
The development of advanced detectors for nuclear physics experiments, particularly those designed to operate in extreme conditions, could lead to innovations applicable to satellite instrumentation. In this intersection, private space companies can actively participate, contributing expertise in sensor technology for cosmic radiation studies and satellite sensors. High-precision spectrometry and imaging technologies from satellites might be used for advanced nuclear material analysis. Microfluidic cooling systems developed for satellites find potential applications in high-power nuclear components, and Heat transfer systems and thermal management technologies for reactors are crucial for spacecraft thermal control and vice-versa.
Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration
The Centre for Nuclear Theory initially conceptualized in a virtual mode, can become a hub for interdisciplinary collaborations such as the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTS). Here, private entities within the Nuclear Physics Community and the space sector can come together to exchange theoretical insights. Theoretical physicists delving into nuclear theory might find their expertise relevant to understanding celestial phenomena. Understanding the cosmos through nuclear physics and Studying radioactive isotopes detected in meteorites and space dust can shed light on stellar nucleosynthesis and the early universe.
Advanced Computing for Space Missions
The emphasis on high-performance computing for nuclear physics research has direct implications for space missions. As space missions generate vast datasets and require complex simulations, the proposed big data centres could serve dual purposes. The computing power envisioned could accelerate space-related simulations, data analysis, and mission planning.
The proposed big data centres offer an opportunity for collaboration, where private entities in both sectors can share resources, enhancing computational capabilities and driving innovations in data analysis for scientific exploration.
Computing Power for Astrophysics Simulations: The high-performance computing infrastructure planned for nuclear and high-energy physics could support complex simulations in astrophysics.
Advanced Laboratories, Test Facilities and Shared Infrastructure
The National Detector Development and Training Centres (NDDTC) proposal holds promise not only for nuclear physics but also for space science. Probing the extreme physics of space with nuclear accelerators and simulating space phenomena like black holes and neutron stars within accelerators can enhance our understanding of these enigmatic objects.
The proposed state-of-the-art facilities, including underground laboratories, offer controlled environments essential for testing space instruments. Instruments sensitive to background radiation, like those on space telescopes, can undergo rigorous testing, ensuring their reliability in the demanding conditions of space.
Cross-Training for Instrumentation Experts
Training programs focused on accelerator physics and detector development can produce experts capable of contributing to both nuclear physics and space research. Scientists and engineers trained in accelerator physics and detector development for nuclear physics undergo cross-disciplinary training to apply their skills to space-related projects.
Scientific Community Growth and Human Resource Development: The growth of the scientific community through increased Ph.D. opportunities and summer-winter programs in nuclear physics also attracts talent interested in space research. Private space companies, alongside traditional research institutes, can actively engage in cross-disciplinary training programs, fostering a dynamic community of scientists and engineers capable of contributing to both nuclear physics and space exploration.
International Collaboration and Space Exploration
The MSV-2035 recommendations open avenues for collaborative projects with international space agencies under iCET on HPC, Semiconductors etc. Joint initiatives could involve studying cosmic phenomena, conducting experiments in microgravity, or developing advanced translational dual-use technologies.
Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), which was under DoS until 2021–22, after the Union cabinet approval has been transferred to the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY). SCL has been involved in the Fabrication of MANAS ASIC for ALICE. A lot of Indian nuclear research institutes and private companies are already working on international projects such as ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid), ITER and CERN Accelerator Projects.
Conclusion
Pooling intellectual resources and expertise can lead to faster breakthroughs and advancements in interdisciplinary fields like nuclear-powered space missions and astrophysics research. Although adhering to international treaties and ensuring responsible research practices in fields like nuclear technology and space exploration is crucial.
The future of both nuclear and space programs in India remains intertwined. New initiatives like the Mega Science Vision 2035 for Nuclear Physics and the Space Policy rely on continued collaboration and cross-pollination of expertise. And while we’re on the subject of nuclear physics, let’s not forget about implicit intertwined applications of the laser and plasma in Space. This unique synergy continues to drive India’s scientific ascent, promising further breakthroughs and solidifying its position as a leader in both fields.
In this article, we summarized the recommendations on Infrastructure-Building Initiatives and the symbiotic relation with Space Sector. In further articles, we’ll discuss the funding aspects and other projects under MSV-2035 such as Nuclear Astrophysics, Solar Neutrinos, and Quantum Chromodynamics, and their implications with Space Research and Industry.
