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The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) is a proposed new particle accelerator, which would advance the state of high-energy physics. The next Congress will be faced with the choice of whether to begin construction of the accelerator, pursue an alternative, or defer the decision until further research reduces current technological uncertainties. In response to a request from the Senate Budget Committee, this special study analyzes the potential risks and benefits of building the SSC. In keeping with the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) mandate to provide nonpartisan analysis, no recommendations are made.

Philip Webre of CBO's Natural Resources and Commerce Division, assisted by Kuljeet Kalkat, wrote this report under the supervision of Elliot Schwartz. Everett M. Ehrlich provided valuable assistance in the initial phases of the project. Robert Hunter, Director of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Research, and Robert Diebold and the Staff of the Department of Energy's SSC Division provided many helpful suggestions and comments. The author wishes to thank Norman Blackburne, Judith Bostock, Desiree Di Mauro, Daniel Kaplan, Leon M. Lederman, Paul Maxwell, David H. Moore, Wolfgang K. H. Panofsky, Christopher Quigg, Robert L. Riemer, Burton Richter, Benno Schorr, Robert Siemann, Michael Sieverts, W. Edward Steinmueller, R. William Thomas, and Stanley Wojcicki for their helpful comments. Amanda Balestrieri edited the manuscript. Margaret T. Cromartie, Patricia Joy, and Gwen Coleman typed the many drafts, and Kathryn Quattrone and Nancy H. Brooks prepared the report for publication.
 

James L. Blum
Acting Director
October 1988
 
 

SUMMARY

I - INTRODUCTION

• What is the Superconducting Super Collider?
• Current Status of the SSC
• Evaluating the SSC

II - THE SSC AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST

• Basic Science and the Public Interest
• The Federal Science Portfolio
• Economies of Scale in Basic Science
• Spinoffs from the SSC

III - BUDGETARY RISKS IN THE SSC PROJECT

• Current Doe Cost Estimates for the SSC
• Overview of Budgetary Risks
• Detectors
• Superconducting Magnets
• Conventional Facilities
• Schedule
• Increases in Construction Costs of Previous Accelerators
• Sharing the Cost of the SSC

IV - CONGRESSIONAL OPTIONS

• Defer the Decision
• Build the Superconducting Super Collider
• Join CERN in Building the Large Hadron Collider
• Build an Electron-Positron Linear Collider
• Build the SSC Using High-Temperature Superconductors

APPENDIXES

A - Technology Spinoffs from Government Programs
B - Technology Spinoffs from CERN Accelerator Research
C - Cost Increases in DOE Accelerators

GLOSSARY
 

TABLES
S-1.	SSC Budget Estimates
S-2.	Comparison of Major Future Accelerators
1.	Construction Costs of High-Energy Physics Facilities Currently Operating in the United States
2.	Cost Components of Dipole Magnets
3.	DOE Estimate of the Cost Breakdown for the SSC
4.	Funding and Cost Profile for the SSC
5.	SSC Budget Estimates
6.	Range of Cost Estimates for One Possible Configuration of Detectors for the SSC
7.	DOE Estimate of Superconducting Magnet Costs
8.	DOE Estimate of the Cost of Conventional Facilities
9.	Changes in the Cost of Accelerators
10.	Comparison of Future Accelerators
B-1.	Sales to CERN and Non-CERN Markets, by Industrial Category
C-1.	Changes in the Cost of the Energy Saver Accelerator
C-2.	Changes in the Cost of the Tevatron Accelerator
FIGURES
1.	Basic Science Budget by Discipline for Selected Fiscal Years
2.	High-Energy Physics Spending
3.	Construction Budget as a Percentage of Total Budget for High-Energy Physics

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