Funding: Department of Energy Announces $9 Million for Research on Fusion Theory

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide $9 million for new theoretical and computational research on magnetic fusion energy science. Research to be supported will include basic analytical work on magnetic confinement fusion as well as development of simulation software capable of exploiting the potential of next generation high-performance computers.

"The theory program provides the conceptual underpinning for the fusion energy sciences program," said James Van Dam, DOE Acting Associate Director of Science for Fusion Energy Sciences. "An important objective of this program is to develop the predictive capability needed for a sustainable fusion energy source and to provide the scientific grounding for the physics models implemented in the advanced fusion simulation codes."

Specific topics covered will include challenges in burning plasma science relevant to magnetic confinement configuration, covering the areas of macroscopic stability, confinement and transport, boundary physics, plasma heating and non-inductive current drive, and energetic particle physics.

Universities, nonprofits, and private sector companies are eligible to submit applications. Funding is to be awarded competitively, on the basis of peer review, and is expected to be in the form of three-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $2.5 million per year, beginning in the current fiscal year. Total planned funding will be $9 million over three years, with outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations.

The DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement, issued by DOE's Office of Science and titled "Theoretical Research in Magnetic Fusion Energy Science," is to be found here.