Theoretical Research in Magnetic Fusion Energy Science | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this grant opportunity about?

This funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES), supports new and renewal projects in theoretical and computational research that advance the U.S. magnetic fusion energy sciences program. The goal is to improve scientific understanding and predictive capability for magnetically confined plasmas, especially physics that affects performance, stability, and control in fusion-relevant devices such as tokamaks and stellarators.

Which DOE office is sponsoring this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the DOE Office of Science through the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES).

What type of funding mechanism is this?

It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology/research and development (R&D) category.

What CFDA number is associated with this program?

The opportunity is under CFDA 81.049, the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program.

What is the funding opportunity number (FON)?

The FOA directs applicants to supplementary information in FedConnect under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000879.

When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The opportunity was posted on March 5, 2013, and the application deadline was May 22, 2013.

What is the archive date for this opportunity?

The archive date listed is August 22, 2013.

When were awards planned to be made?

Awards were planned for Fiscal Year 2014, contingent on the availability of appropriated federal funds.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.

How many main research areas does the FOA target?

The FOA targets five main research areas that represent major pillars of magnetic fusion theory and simulation.

What are the five targeted research areas?

The five research areas are: (1) macroscopic stability, (2) confinement and transport, (3) boundary physics, (4) plasma heating and non-inductive current drive, and (5) energetic particles.

What does the macroscopic stability area cover?

Macroscopic stability research focuses on large-scale plasma behavior and instabilities that can limit operations. It includes topics tied to equilibrium, disruption avoidance, and global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) behavior.

What does the confinement and transport area cover?

Confinement and transport addresses how heat, particles, and momentum move through plasma, including turbulent transport and related modeling that helps determine whether a device can achieve and sustain fusion-relevant conditions.

What does the boundary physics area cover?

Boundary physics centers on the plasma edge region where plasma meets material surfaces. It includes the scrape-off layer, edge instabilities, and plasma-material interaction issues affecting impurity behavior, exhaust of heat and particles, and overall device lifetime, reliability, and performance.

What does the plasma heating and non-inductive current drive area cover?

This area covers theory and computation relevant to externally heating plasmas and driving electrical current without relying on transformer action, which is important for steady-state operation. It typically includes wave-plasma interaction physics and modeling of heating and current drive schemes.

What does the energetic particles area cover?

Energetic particles research focuses on the behavior of high-energy ions (for example, ions produced by auxiliary heating systems or, in future devices, fusion-born alpha particles) and how they interact with plasma waves and instabilities, since these interactions can affect confinement, damage components, and reduce fusion performance.

Are projects limited to tokamaks only?

No. The description emphasizes fusion-relevant devices such as tokamaks and stellarators.

Is this opportunity focused on experimental work or theory/simulation?

The opportunity is focused on theoretical and computational research intended to advance understanding and predictive capability for magnetically confined plasmas.

Are both new and renewal projects eligible?

Yes. The opportunity states it supports both new and renewal projects.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly open to domestic applicants and is described as unrestricted, subject to explicit exclusions and any additional clarifications in the full FOA.

Which applicants are explicitly not eligible?

Two explicit exclusions are listed: (1) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors are not eligible to apply; and (2) nonprofit organizations classified under IRS section 501(c)(4) that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995 are excluded.

Does the summary list specific award amounts or total funding?

No. The announcement lists estimated total funding and award floor/ceiling as 0, which typically indicates the funding amounts were not specified in the summary record and that applicants needed to consult the full FOA for funding ranges and anticipated award sizes.

Where can applicants find the detailed topical guidance for each research area?

The FOA directs readers to supplementary information available through FedConnect under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000879.

Who is the technical/scientific program contact for questions?

The technical/scientific program contact listed is John Mandrekas at the DOE Office of Science.

How can applicants contact the program contact?

Phone: 301-903-0552. Email: john.mandrekas@science.doe.gov.

What should applicants do if they have trouble accessing supplementary information?

The FOA indicates applicants can contact the listed technical/scientific program contact, John Mandrekas, for questions or access issues related to the supplementary information.