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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): DOE FOA DE-FOA-0001153 - High Energy Density Laboratory Plasma Science

1) What is Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001153?

DE-FOA-0001153 is a Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity titled "High Energy Density Laboratory Plasma Science." It solicits grant applications for research in high energy density (HED) laboratory plasmas and is described as the primary pathway for investigators and teams seeking support in this joint DOE Office of Science and NNSA research area for the referenced funding cycle.

2) Which DOE offices are sponsoring this funding opportunity?

This FOA is jointly sponsored by the DOE Office of Science, specifically the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program, and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), specifically the Defense Programs office. The joint sponsorship reflects a coordinated effort to support basic and applied research relevant to HED laboratory plasmas.

3) What kinds of applications does this FOA invite?

The announcement invites both new proposals and renewal applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 funding.

4) What is the overall scientific focus of the FOA?

The scientific scope centers on understanding matter and plasma behavior under extreme conditions, including very high pressures, high temperatures, intense radiation fields, and strong electromagnetic environments.

5) What targeted research areas are explicitly called out in the FOA?

The FOA lists eight targeted research areas:

• HED hydrodynamics
• Radiation-dominated dynamics and material properties
• Magnetized HED plasma physics
• Nonlinear optics of plasmas and laser-plasma interactions
• Relativistic HED plasmas and intense beam physics
• Warm dense matter
• High-Z, multiply ionized HED atomic physics
• Diagnostics for HED laboratory plasmas

6) What does the FOA mean by "HED hydrodynamics"?

Within the FOA description, HED hydrodynamics refers to the flow and instability behavior of dense, rapidly evolving plasmas under extreme conditions.

7) What is included under "radiation-dominated dynamics and material properties"?

This area covers regimes where radiation transport and radiative effects strongly shape plasma evolution, along with how materials respond under those radiation-influenced extreme conditions.

8) What is "magnetized HED plasma physics" in the context of this opportunity?

This topic includes experiments and theory where magnetic fields substantially influence transport, confinement, shocks, reconnection, or stability in high energy density plasmas.

9) What does the FOA emphasize about laser-plasma interactions and nonlinear optics of plasmas?

The FOA emphasizes how intense lasers propagate through plasma, how they drive waves and instabilities, and how laser energy couples into targets in HED conditions.

10) What is meant by "relativistic HED plasmas and intense beam physics"?

This area covers situations where particle energies and electromagnetic fields are high enough that relativistic effects become important, and where intense charged-particle beams can be used to create or probe extreme states.

11) Why is warm dense matter included as a priority topic?

The FOA describes warm dense matter as a regime between condensed matter and ideal plasma behavior, and notes its importance for conditions relevant to planetary interiors and inertial confinement fusion-related environments.

12) What does "high-Z, multiply ionized HED atomic physics" cover?

This topic focuses on heavy elements (high atomic number, or high-Z) in extreme ionization states, including atomic structure, kinetics, opacities, and emissivities under HED conditions.

13) What kinds of work fall under "diagnostics for HED laboratory plasmas"?

This area supports the development of measurement techniques capable of resolving fast time scales, small spatial scales, and high-background environments typical of HED experiments.

14) Where can applicants find the detailed subtopics and expectations for each research area?

The FOA indicates that more detailed expectations and subtopics are provided in the full announcement and supplemental program information. Applicants are expected to follow those documents closely when designing their research plans.

15) What funding type and mechanism does this opportunity use?

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the grant mechanism under the DOE Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049).

16) Is cost sharing required for this FOA?

No. Cost sharing is not required.

17) Who is eligible to apply, and who is explicitly not eligible?

Eligibility is broadly open to most applicant types, with two explicit exclusions stated in the provided information:

• Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors are not eligible to apply.
• Certain 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.

18) Can an individual serve as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)?

Yes. The FOA notes that individuals with the necessary expertise and resources may serve as Program Director/Principal Investigator through their organizations.

19) Does the FOA encourage applications from specific groups?

Yes. It explicitly encourages applications from underrepresented groups and individuals with disabilities.

20) What are the key dates listed for this FOA?

The provided synopsis information lists these key dates:

• Posted/Creation date: July 3, 2014
• Application deadline: October 1, 2014
• Archive date: January 1, 2015

21) Does the synopsis provide the total funding amount or typical award size?

No. The synopsis data do not provide an estimated total funding amount, an award floor, or an award ceiling. This implies the funding levels and award sizes may be variable or provided in the full FOA text.

22) Where should applicants go for the full announcement and submission instructions?

Applicants are directed to obtain the full announcement and detailed submission instructions through FedConnect, using the link provided in the notice. The full FOA contains the required application package guidance and program-specific requirements.

23) Who is the listed scientific contact for questions or access issues?

The listed scientific program contact is Sean M. Finnegan. Phone: 301-903-4920. Email: sean.finnegan@science.doe.gov.