Discovery Science Collaboration with India

Summary:

• Fermilab is the world premier High Energy Physics laboratory. Fermilab’s focus is to become world leader in neutrino physics. It is building a flagship experiment Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment(DUNE).
• Neutrino beam will be produced by upgraded 2.4 MW Fermilab accelerator complex upgrade which included a new High Intensity Superconducting Proton Accelerator (HISPA).
• Indian three stage Nuclear program is based on utilization of Thorium in the 3^rd An energy and cost-effective solution is required for conversion of Thorium in fissile material (Kakodkar and Grover [1]).
• Indian DAE has a R&D project to work on HISPA for Accelerated Driven System (ADS) for the 3^rd stage, in which a proton accelerator could be coupled with a reactor with Thorium core.
• In 2003, Fermilab and collaborating Indian Institutions initiated a new collaboration, which resulted in Fermilab and Indian DAE laboratories initiating a collaboration, in 2009, on the joint Research, Design and Development of HISPA for respective domestic interest. Since 2011, the collaboration has been operating under US-India S&T agreement (Mishra et al [2]).
  • Jointly developed technology can be freely shared between Fermilab and DAE laboratories.
  • Fermilab has obtained approval from US Department of Commerce to share HISPA technology with DAE laboratories.
• DAE scientists and engineers, in collaboration with Indian industries, are learning side by side with Fermilab how to design and fabricate the State of the Art HISPA hardware.
• With the technology shared by Fermilab significant HISPA infrastructure has been built (and continuing to be built) at collaborating DAE laboratories for indigenous development of HISPA.

Details:

Fermilab is the world premier High Energy Physics laboratory. The current focus of Fermilab is to become world leader in neutrino physics. Fermilab is building a flagship experiment “Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment” (DUNE). DUNE will be a 40 kton liquid Argon detector located in an underground mine in South Dakota. Fermilab accelerator complex is being upgraded to send an intense muon neutrino beam to the DUNE detector located 1300 kms away. Neutrino beam is produced by Fermilab accelerator complex upgrade project. A new High Intensity Superconducting Proton Accelerator (HISPA) is the integral part of this. Fermilab and Indian DAE laboratories are collaborating on the joint Research, Design and Development of HISPA.

Indian three stage Nuclear program is based on utilization of Thorium in the 3^rd stage. An efficient and cost-effective solution is required for conversion of Thorium in fissile material.  Indian nuclear program has been discussing Accelerated Driven System (ADS) for the 3^rd stage, in which a high intensity proton accelerator is coupled with a reactor with Thorium core. It is required that the accelerator must be efficient enough that the Reactor put out a minimum of 4 to 5 times of electricity it takes from the grid. This would require an indigenous development of High Intensity Superconducting Proton Accelerator (HISPA).

• The Indian Institutions and Fermilab Collaboration was originally established by Dr. Rajendra Raja, and Dr. Roy Rubinstein, Senior Scientists at Fermilab with Indian institutions, TIFR, University of Delhi and Punjab University to collaborate on DZero experiments at Fermilab.
• Around 2002, the helm of the Energy frontier in High Energy Physics was moving from Fermilab to CERN. It was anticipated that Indian institutions will move its research effort to CERN.
• Raja and Mishra, Fermilab, scientists and professors of Indian origin working at Fermilab initiated a vision for long term collaboration with India. They met with Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, India in Feb 2003. After getting endorsement, encouragement and references from Prof. Ramamurthy, the group proceeded to work towards an interaction meeting.
• The collaboration met for the 1^st time at India-DAE-DST and US-DOE sponsored Indo-US Interaction Meeting, INSA, New Delhi, Nov 10-12, New Delhi. The interaction meeting was attended by 17 US and more than 70+ Indian scientists.
  • Indian science management, DOE and Fermilab agreed to develop a new collaboration in Accelerator and Physics

• In 2004, 2nd interaction meeting took place at Fermilab. Dr. Vinod Sahni and India scientists attended representing DAE and DST.
• In 2005, US-India signed an S&T agreement, with a key agreement on intellectual property rights was signed in Washington.
• 2003-2006, Dr. Mishra and Indian colleagues held several high-level meetings with Indian technocrats, PM and President to understand Indian vision, need and to establish collaborations guiding principle and vision.
  • Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy, Secretary, DST: “Science must be exciting”.
  • Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Secretary, DAE: “Collaboration must leapfrog Indian program and interest, especially in energy independence”
• Abdul Kalam, President, India: “Collaboration must train future scientists of India”.
• In Jan 2006, US-DOE and India-DAE-DST gave approval to establish an Institution to Institution MOU.
• In 2006, Dr. Robin Stafin, Associate Director for High Energy Physics, Dr. Mishra and Prof. Lockyer, University of Pennsylvania, visited DAE and DST.
• A technical addendum I to MOU was established in Oct 2007 an Indian-US institutions MOU for collaboration of accelerator and High Energy Physics. An institutional MOU was signed in Mumbai.

• 2006-2008, Indian DAE laboratories and Indian universities scientists and engineers visited Fermilab, and vice versa for collaborative work and to establish a long-term program.
  • GOI approved Rs 50 cr to the Indian Institutions for the collaborative work.
• During 2007-2012, many US and Indian scientific management made trips to India and Fermilab, listening to both sides while keeping focus on the guiding principles established by both US and India technocrats.
  • The United States and India had established a US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. It was desirable to model the physics collaboration on the same agreement, but at the same time keep it out from being under the umbrella of the Nuclear Agreement.
  • The collaboration proceeded to develop an Implementing Agreement under the US-India S&T agreement for the new Accelerator and physics collaboration between the two countries.
• In 2007 a government level meeting was arranged at Fermilab. Dr. Kamal Dewedi, Science Office, Indian Embassy to the USA.
• In 2007, Director, Fermilab and Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Secretary, DAE, initiated focused discussion on development of collaboration on High Intensity Superconducting Proton Accelerator and Neutrino Physics. Several visits of scientists and engineers took place. 1st visit of technical staff was in Dec 2007.
• In Feb 2009, Indian-DAE laboratories and Fermilab signed an addendum to the MOU. In the period of 2009-2011 eight addendums were signed for the “Total Project Collaboration”.
• In Oct 2009, on request of Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Indian Ambassador to the United States Ms. Meera Shankar and Consul General Mr. Ashok Atari visited Fermilab. 
• In 2009, Dr. Shri Kumar Banerjee, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission of India and Secretary Department of Energy, Dr. V. C. Sahni, Director, RRCAT and Dr. R. K. Bhandari, Director, VECC visited Fermilab and attended the Application of High Intensity Proton Accelerator Workshop.
• In 2009, Dr. Satish Kulkarni, Science Counsel to US Ambassador to India visited Fermilab
• In Nov 2009, on invitation of Mrs. Shankar, Indian Ambassador to the US, Dr. Mishra and Mr. Atari, Consul General of India, Chicago briefed the National Security Advisor, India about the developing collaboration between Fermilab and the Indian DAE laboratories. This briefing took place on the side line of Dr. Manmohan Singh, PM, India visit to Washington.
• In Jan 2010, Dennis Kovar, Associate Director for High Energy Physics visited India with Dr. Pier Oddone and Dr. Shekhar Mishra.
• In Feb, 2010 US-India Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group met at the Department of Atomic Energy-HQ in Mumbai, Chaired by Mr. Warren Miller, Assistant Secretary for DOE-NE and Dr. Ravi Grover, Director of India’s Strategic & Planning Group in the Department of Atomic Energy and Special Advisor to Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India.
  • Shekhar Mishra made a presentation on the Accelerator and Neutrino Physics collaboration. This was the 1^st reorganization of the collaboration at the US-India strategic interest.
• May 2010, Dr. Shrikumar Banerjee, Secretary, DAE, requested the US government to establish a “Road Map” for the Indian Institutions and Fermilab Collaboration. He has a meeting with Dr. W. Brinkman, Director, Office of Science, DOE and discussed path forward for the collaboration. They agreed to additional guiding principle.
  • Collaboration must work to strengthen the Indian laboratory and industrial infrastructure.
  • Indian contribution should be significant, have synergy with Indian interest and expertise and must have DAE-DST ownership.
  • Dr. Banerjee requested the collaboration to develop a plan to jointly develop three accelerators for our respective programs.
  • He encouraged the collaboration to explore the possibilities of physics collaboration.
    • GOI approved additional Rs 12 cr for the development of the neutrino physics program
• In 2011, many government level visits took place to Fermilab and India. Including
  • The Visit of Kalam, Former president of India.
  • The Visit of Anil Kakodkar, Member Atomic Energy Commission of India and (Former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission of India).
  • The Visit of Dr. Ravi Grover, Principal Adviser to the Chairman Atomic Energy Commission of India, Dr. Purniah, Dr. Singh and colleagues from DAE.
  • The Visit of  Dutta, Science Officer, Indian Embassy to the United States.
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• V. S. Ramamurthy, visited to interact with DST funded institutions and learn about the collaboration.
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• In 2011, the collaboration submitted a scientific program to DAE and DST secretaries.
  • Major Indian industry CEOs were invited by DAE management to review and comment on the program developed and presented by Dr. Mishra.
  • CEOs recommended to DAE that if the program is developed and managed as presented by Dr. Mishra there is no doubt in their mind that India could develop the accelerator needed for its 3^rd stage energy program indigenous in 10 years. Key here was American style management with explicit deadlines and reviews.
• In 2011, US-DOE and India-DAE signed an Implementing Agreement to the S&T agreement for this collaboration. (Side Line of US President’s visit to India)
• Indian Institutions and Fermilab Collaboration became part of DAE’s internal planning for the 12th and 13th plan.
• In June 2011, the Indian Institutions and Fermilab collaboration became number of deliverables at the US-India Strategic Dialogue, S&T Dialogue. Dr. Mishra, Dr. Pitamber Singh (BARC) and Dr. Purniah (DAE) represented the collaboration.
  • “The Joint Commission recommended several new directions of cooperation including research in the areas of high energy particle physics and gravitational wave detection under the ‘Discovery Science Agreement between Department of Atomic Energy and U.S. DOE”.
• In 3 yrs (2009-2011), this collaboration expanded for institutional level to become a significant part of the US-India strategic interest.
• In Aug 2011, Fermilab and DAE laboratories management signed several Addendum MOUs to the Jan 2006 MOU expanding the High Intensity Accelerator Physics collaboration to all technical areas.
• After the signing of the Implementing Agreement in 2011, the collaboration management was asked by DAE and DOE management to developed two Project Annexes (Accelerator and Neutrino Physics) and Collaboration Management Plan.
• After considerable negotiations and discussions US-DOE and India-DAE agreed that Dr. Mishra will be the US-Technical Coordinator and lead the development of these two Project Annexes. Negotiations on Dr. Mishra’s appointment were needed as Dr. Mishra was not a US government employee. Both US-DOE and Indian-DAE understood and agreed that only with Dr. Mishra’s understanding of all the rules, regulation, history of collaboration and guiding principles it will be possible to establish a vital technical program under these two Project Annexes.
  • 1st Draft of the Project Annex I and II was submitted by US DOE, after internal US approvals, to DAE in March 2012.
  • In June 2012, DAE-DOE Discovery Science Collaboration became an integral part of the US India Strategic Dialogue. Indian Ambassador, Minister of Science and Technology, India, US Ambassador to India and  US Presidential Science Adviser endorsed this collaboration.
    • DAE and DOE was asked to prepare a timeline and collaboration was asked to submit the Design Reports required by DAE by 31 Dec 2012.
  • Mishra briefed Mr. Pranab Mukerjee, Finance Minister of India about the collaboration at a breakfast meeting with Indian Ambassador to the US.
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• In July 2012, Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr. V. Ravi visited Fermilab.
• In Aug 2012, Dr. Bikash Sinha, Scientific Adviser to the PM, India visited Fermilab.
• Indian Institutions and Fermilab Collaboration meeting at Fermilab Nov 2012
• 2011-2013, detailed project documents were prepared, reviewed and approved by DOE and DAE. These documents went for approval through CS 175 process in the US the Atomic Energy Commission of India and Cabinet Committee on Security approval in India.
  • Purniah, Dr. Binkley on behalf of DAE and DOE respectively worked hand and hand in negotiating the final language of the Project Annex I and II.
  • Several meetings were held between the senior officials of the US and Indian governments in India and the United States to sort out the issues related to the export control, intellectual property etc.
• In Jan 2013, after the visit of US Ambassador to India and meeting between the US National Nuclear Safety Administration officials and senior officials of DAE, clarity emerged on the legal language of the Project Annexes to address the concerns of both India and USA.
• In Feb 2013, DAE initiated the initial processing for approval of the text of the Project Annex I by the Government of India.
  • DAE requested Dr. Brinkman, Director, Office of Science, DOE to prepare and deliver an itemized list and schedule of deliverables.
• On Aug 17, 2013, the DAE-DOE Project to collaborate with Fermilab under Annex I were presented to and approved by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of India. AEC gave In-Principle approval to the Project Annex II for the Neutrino Collaboration.
• In Aug 2013, DAE intimated through official transmission to US-DOE, the final and frozen text of the Project Annex I and II.
  • Project Annex I and II were also approved by the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
  • US-DOE sent their formal approval of the project annexes in Sept 2013
  • DAE forward Project Annex I for approval by the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security.
    • Project Annex II does not require this procedure and was planned to be funded through Mega Science Collaboration.
• On September 23, 2013, Dr. R. K. Sinha, Chairman, AEC informed Mishra that our project proposal is now being dealt with at the highest level of approvals in the Government of India.
• On April 28, 2014, Mr Vikram K Doraiswami, Joint Secretary for America, Ministry of External Affairs, India visited Fermilab with Mr. Ausaf Sayeed, Counsel General of India, Chicago, to understand the “Win-Win” promise of the collaboration, before the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security, India.
• September 2014, Indian Cabinet Committee on Security of Mr. N. Modi, PM of India, gave its approval for signing of the Project Annex I by the DAE and DOE Secretaries.
  • Mishra met Mr. Modi, Prime Minister of India, in New York.
• The US-India Joint Statement said, “The President welcomed India’s contribution and cooperation on high-energy physics and accelerator research and development with the U.S. Department of Energy. The President thanked the Prime Minister for his offer to have U.S. institutions partner with a new Indian Institute of Technology.”
• Nov 6, 2014, Dr. R. K. Sinha, Secretary, DAE, signed the Project Annex I in Mumbai and transmitted it to the Indian Embassy in Washington.
  • GOI under this Annex is making Rs 1000 cr “In-Kind” contribution to Fermilab program for acquiring the accelerator technology for indigenous program.
• In Jan 2015, Project Annex I was signed by Dr. Moniz, Secretary, DOE and Dr. R. K. Sinha, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission of India at DAE-HQ in Mumbai during the president Mr. Obama visit to India.
• On Aug 2015, on request of Mr. Ausaf Sayeed, Shekhar Mishra gave a collaboration status report to Mr. Arun K. Singh, Indian Ambassador to the United States.
• In Sept 2015, one year after the approval of the Discovery Science Agreement by Indian Cabinet Committee on Security the collaboration was progressing well on all fronts.
  • Development of Solid State Amplifier at BARC

• • Joint Development of  650 MHz Cavity at VECC
  • Development of Cryomodule Test Facility for Fermilab at BARC
  • Joint Development of Electromagnet at BARC