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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Diode Pumped Alkali Laser Physics Research (USAFA LORC)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) funding call requesting white papers under the Laser and Optics Research Center (LORC) topic area. It is issued under the broader USAFA-BAA-2015 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Amendment 4 (dated 18 October 2018).

2) What is the program trying to accomplish?

The stated purpose is to attract research ideas that advance high power laser science. The call emphasizes fundamental and applied studies that can strengthen Department of Defense capabilities while also producing publishable scientific results.

3) Who is the sponsoring agency?

The sponsoring agency is the Department of Defense, Air Force Academy (USAFA).

4) Where is the work expected to take place?

The opportunity is positioned within the USAFA Department of Physics. Proposers are expected to be able to leverage USAFA in-house experimental facilities and collaborate closely with USAFA personnel.

5) What is the main technical focus area?

The primary technical focus is physics research to improve diode pumped alkali lasers (DPALs), including efforts to raise performance, understand limiting mechanisms, and enable more reliable, higher power operation suitable for demanding experiments.

6) What specific DPAL research needs does the call highlight?

A major need highlighted is the development of new diagnostics that can directly measure key properties inside DPAL systems, specifically densities, temperatures, and ionization fraction.

7) Are diagnostics required, or just encouraged?

Based on the call description, diagnostics development is a major highlighted need within the DPAL focus area, with an expectation that diagnostics will be designed and demonstrated and that results will be documented through reports and peer-reviewed publications.

8) What kinds of results and deliverables are expected?

The call indicates expectations for formal reports and peer-reviewed publications describing diagnostic approaches and results, alongside research outcomes that advance high power laser science and support defense-relevant capabilities.

9) Are there other topic areas besides DPALs?

Yes. Alongside the DPAL emphasis, the call invites proposals in several secondary laser and optics application areas: atom interferometers, nonlinear optics, high harmonic generation, laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms, and quantum computing.

10) Are the secondary topics limited to basic research, or can they be applied?

The solicitation encourages both basic and applied research across the secondary areas and related subjects, especially where the work aligns with advancing laser-enabled physics experiments and defense-relevant science.

11) How important is undergraduate student involvement?

Undergraduate involvement is a distinctive and strongly emphasized feature of the USAFA LORC environment. Funded researchers are expected to incorporate meaningful undergraduate participation as part of the project plan.

12) How many undergraduate students are typically expected to participate?

The program description indicates projects typically involve two to four undergraduate students per semester.

13) How should a proposal address the undergraduate research component?

Proposals should be shaped not only around scientific objectives and deliverables, but also around a practical plan for executing the work in a way that productively integrates undergraduate student researchers.

14) What is the opportunity identifier?

The opportunity is listed as USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0010.

15) What is the CFDA number?

The listing includes CFDA 12.800.

16) What type of funding is this considered?

It is categorized as discretionary funding.

17) What award instruments might be used?

The opportunity may be awarded through a cooperative agreement, grant, or procurement contract, depending on the government determination and the nature of the proposed work.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of applicant types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications contained in the full announcement text.

19) How many awards are anticipated?

The posting indicates an anticipated single award.

20) What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is listed as $475,000.

21) When was this opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on December 10, 2019. The posting listed an original closing date of January 17, 2020, reflecting the window in which white papers were requested for consideration under this call.

22) Is this call requesting full proposals or white papers?

This specific call is described as a request for white papers.

23) What balance of fundamental science vs defense relevance is expected?

The call emphasizes research that advances high power laser science and strengthens Department of Defense capabilities, while also producing publishable scientific results. In other words, both defense relevance and scientific publishability are central to the stated goals.

24) What makes USAFA LORC a distinctive research environment for this opportunity?

The call highlights substantial in-house experimental facilities, close collaboration with USAFA personnel, and a program structure that expects meaningful undergraduate student participation as core features of the environment.