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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - NSF Plasma Physics (PD 09 1242)

What is this NSF funding opportunity?

This is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "Plasma Physics" with Funding Opportunity Number PD 09 1242. It supports research focused on the fundamental physics of plasmas rather than near-term applications. The program is housed within NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate and uses the standard grant funding instrument (CFDA 47.049).

Is this opportunity currently open?

No. The opportunity is archived. The description still provides useful guidance on the scope and review expectations that typically define NSF's basic plasma physics portfolio.

What is the main goal of the Plasma Physics program described here?

The core purpose is to fund theoretical and experimental research that advances basic understanding of plasma behavior across a wide range of plasma regimes. Proposals are expected to be framed around first-principles scientific questions and underlying mechanisms in plasma physics.

What kinds of research approaches are supported?

The program supports both theoretical and experimental work, provided it is aimed at fundamental plasma physics. The emphasis is on advancing basic understanding of plasma behavior, mechanisms, and governing processes.

What research topics are explicitly within scope?

Topics explicitly called out include plasma turbulence and shocks; turbulent, nonlocal, and collisional transport processes (with and without strong magnetic fields); non-neutral plasmas; cold plasmas; strongly coupled plasmas and dusty plasmas; laser-plasma interactions (including ultrashort-pulse and ultra-intense regimes); high energy density plasmas; and low temperature plasmas.

What kinds of scientific questions should proposals emphasize?

Proposals should be organized around fundamental mechanisms such as instability growth, energy cascade and dissipation, particle and heat transport, wave-particle interactions, shock formation, coupling and correlation effects, and the roles of electromagnetic fields, collisions, and boundaries in plasma dynamics.

Does the program fund application-driven plasma work?

The program is positioned for fundamental science. If a proposal is primarily about applying plasma physics to a specific domain or near-term application, it is expected to be submitted to a more appropriate NSF program aligned with that application area.

Which kinds of application-focused proposals are expected to be submitted elsewhere within NSF?

The solicitation gives examples such as space plasma physics, astrophysics, and engineering programs. If the main contribution is tied to space/heliospheric phenomena, astrophysical systems, or engineered plasma devices and technologies, a different NSF program is typically a better fit.

How important is program alignment and fit?

Program alignment is a major emphasis. Reviewers will evaluate both scientific merit and fit. Proposals that do not address very basic issues in plasma physics can be returned without review as inappropriate for this program.

Are computational plasma physics proposals supported?

Computational work can be part of a proposal, but proposals centered on computational physics challenges that require substantial, long-term code development, or that hinge on deep collaboration with applied mathematicians and computer scientists, are directed to a different NSF program (PIF) rather than this plasma physics program.

What is the PIF program mentioned, and when is it relevant?

The opportunity notes that projects whose primary focus is substantial, long-term code development or deep collaborations in applied mathematics and computer science should be directed toward PIF rather than this plasma physics program.

Is the competition restricted to certain types of applicants?

The opportunity is described as an unrestricted competition in the sense that it is open to any eligible applicant type, with no restrictions specified in the provided description.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

What NSF organizational unit manages this program?

The program is housed within NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, within the Physics Division portfolio described here.

Can interdisciplinary proposals be considered?

Yes. The opportunity notes that plasma research often crosses disciplinary lines, and NSF anticipates that many proposals may be co-reviewed with other parts of NSF when the work legitimately spans boundaries but still has a strong basic plasma physics core.

How does NSF handle review for proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries?

The Physics Division may coordinate reviews with other organizations within the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate and with programs in the Engineering and Geosciences Directorates. The goal is to ensure appropriate expertise in review and to support interdisciplinary work without diluting the fundamental plasma physics contribution.

Can proposals be considered for joint NSF and DOE support?

Yes. Unless an applicant specifically requests otherwise, proposals may be considered for joint support by NSF and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under the NSF/DOE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering.

How can an applicant avoid being considered for NSF/DOE joint support?

The opportunity states that proposals may be considered for joint NSF-DOE support unless the applicant specifically requests otherwise. Based on the provided text, the way to avoid joint consideration is to explicitly request otherwise in the proposal submission.

Does the archived listing provide expected award counts or total program funding?

The extracted metadata listed no expected awards or total funding. The description indicates those fields can reflect posting artifacts rather than a definitive statement about program activity, and the central takeaway is the program scope and fit expectations.

When was this solicitation originally posted and when was it archived?

Administrative details indicate it was originally posted in 2008 with an October target date and later archived in 2010.

What is the most common reason a proposal might be returned without review under this program description?

A key risk highlighted is submitting a proposal that does not address very basic issues in plasma physics (for example, work that is primarily application-driven or misaligned with the program scope). In such cases, the proposal can be returned without review as inappropriate.

What funding instrument is used?

The opportunity uses the standard NSF grant funding instrument.

What does it mean that the program focuses on "fundamental" plasma physics?

It means the proposal should be built around first-principles understanding of plasma behavior and mechanisms (instabilities, transport, wave-particle interactions, shocks, fields, collisions, boundaries, correlations), rather than primarily targeting a specific application area, device, or near-term technology outcome.