[Federal Register: January 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 13)]
[Notices]
[Page 2906-2908]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ja04-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice DE-FG01-
04ER04-09: Scientific Discovery Through Advanced Computing--Advanced
Simulation of Fusion Plasmas
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice inviting research grant applications.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES) of the Office of
Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its
interest in receiving grant applications for the development of
scientific simulation codes needed to address complex problems in
fusion energy sciences. The goal is the creation of codes that achieve
high performance on a single node, scale to hundreds of nodes and
thousands of processors, and have the potential to be ported to future
generations of high performance computers. This announcement is focused
on topical areas that are important to a burning plasma physics
experiment, such as ITER, and will contribute to establishing the
scientific foundation for an integrated fusion simulation in the
future. Specific areas of interest include:
[sbull] Turbulence and transport in order to understand energy and
particle confinement in burning plasmas,
[sbull] Macroscopic equilibrium and stability to predict stability
limits in magnetically confined plasmas,
[sbull] Boundary layer effects in plasmas in order to understand
the transport of heat and particles in the edge region of a fusion
device, and
[sbull] Electromagnetic wave/particle interactions to be able to
predict heating and current drive in burning plasmas.
The full text of Program Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-09 is available via
the Internet at the following Web site address: http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html
.
DATES: Applicants are requested to submit a Letter-of-Intent by
February 16, 2004. This letter should include the name of the
applicant, the title of the project, the name of the Principal
Investigator(s)/project director, the amount of funds requested, and a
one-page abstract. Letters-of-Intent will be used to organize and
expedite the merit review process. Failure to submit such letters will
not negatively affect a responsive application submitted in a timely
fashion. The Letter-of-Intent should be sent by E-mail to
john.sauter@science.doe.gov, and the subject line should state: Letter-
of-Intent regarding Program Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-09.
Formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be
received by DOE no later than 4:30 p.m., March 23, 2004. Electronic
submission of formal applications in PDF format is required.
ADDRESSES: Letters-of-Intent should be sent by E-mail to
john.sauter@science.doe.gov, and the subject line should state: Letter-
of-Intent regarding Program Notice DE-FG01-04ER04-09.
Full applications in response to this solicitation Number DE-FG01-
04ER04-09 must be submitted electronically by an authorized
institutional business official through DOE's Industry Interactive
Procurement System (IIPS) at: http://e-center.doe.gov/. IIPS provides
for the posting of solicitations and receipt of applications in a
paperless environment via the Internet. In order to submit applications
through IIPS, your business official will need to register at the IIPS
Web site. It is suggested that this registration be completed several
days prior to the date on which you plan to submit the formal
application. The Office of Science will include attachments as part of
this notice that provide the appropriate forms in PDF fillable format
that are to be submitted through IIPS. IIPS offers the option of
submitting multiple files--please limit submissions to only one file
within the volume if possible, with a maximum of no more than four
files. Color images should be submitted in IIPS as a separate file in
PDF format and identified as such. These images should be kept to a
minimum due to the limitations of reproducing them. They should be
numbered and referred to in the body of the technical scientific grant
application as Color image 1, Color image 2, etc. Questions regarding
the operation of IIPS may be e-mailed to the IIPS Help Desk at:
helpdesk@pr.doe.gov, or you may call the help desk at: 800-683-0751;
residents of Canada call: 202-287-1491. Further information on the use
of IIPS by the Office of Science is available at: http://www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Stephen Eckstrand or Dr. Arnold
Kritz, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, SC-55/Germantown Building,
U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC
20585-1290. Telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are listed below:
Stephen Eckstrand: telephone 301-903-5546, e-mail
steve.eckstrand@science.doe.gov.
Arnold Kritz: telephone 301-903-2027, e-mail
arnold.kritz@science.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scientific Discovery Through Advanced Computing
Beyond the scientific computing and computational science research
embedded in the Office of Science (SC) core research programs, SC
invests in a portfolio of coordinated research efforts directed at
exploiting the emerging capabilities of terascale and petascale
computing under the collective title of Scientific Discovery through
Advanced Computing (SciDAC). The research projects in the SciDAC
portfolio respond to the extraordinary difficulties of realizing
sustained peak performance for scientific applications, such as
simulating combustion, making multi-century climate predictions,
understanding and controlling a burning plasma, and designing new
particle accelerators that require terascale and petascale capabilities
to accomplish their research goals. In recognition of these
difficulties, the SciDAC research projects are collaborative efforts
involving teams of physical scientists, mathematicians, computer
scientists, and computational scientists working on major software and
algorithm development for problems in the core research programs of the
Office of Science. Research funded in the SciDAC portfolio is enabling
teams of laboratory and university researchers to solve some of the
most challenging scientific problems in the core programs of the Office
of Science at a level of accuracy and detail never before achieved. A
complete description of the SciDAC program can be found at: http://www.osti.gov/scidac/
.
Background: Advanced Simulation of Fusion Plasmas
In January 2003, the President announced that the United States
would seek to join ITER negotiations, and the United States has
subsequently done so. ITER is an ambitious international research
project to harness the promise of fusion energy. Following this
announcement, the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences decided to focus its
part of the SciDAC program on burning plasma physics needs.
Accordingly, the new and renewal applications for the fusion SciDAC
program will concentrate on developing reliable computational modeling
capabilities for dealing with burning plasma physics issues relevant to
ITER, and on establishing the scientific groundwork for an integrated
fusion simulation project. Such a project is needed to develop the
predictive capability necessary to improve
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experimental planning for ITER and enhance scientific understanding
gained from the operation of ITER.
The scope and complexity of these projects will require close
collaboration among researchers from the computational and theoretical
plasma physics, computer science, and applied mathematics disciplines.
Thus, this solicitation calls for the creation of topical centers as
the organizational basis for a successful application. A topical center
is a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary team that will:
[sbull] Create scientific simulation codes that take full advantage
of terascale computers,
[sbull] Work closely with other SciDAC teams to ensure that the
best available mathematical algorithms and computer science methods are
employed, and
[sbull] Manage the work of the center in a way that will foster
good communication and decision making (see section on Collaboration
and Coordination below).
Partnerships among universities, national laboratories, and
industry are encouraged. Collaborations between computational plasma
physicists, applied mathematicians and computer scientists are also
encouraged. Applicants may request additional funding for associated
applied mathematics or computer science work that is needed to support
the development of the scientific applications codes as part of
Scientific Application Partnership Program.
Applications are being sought in the following four topical areas:
1. Macroscopic Equilibrium and Stability
Applications for development of codes to model macroscale dynamics
in fusion-grade tokamak plasmas should address relevant physics issues
in 3-dimensional extended magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), such as (1) full
nonlinear sawtooth oscillation modeling in fusion-grade plasmas, (2)
tearing mode and neoclassical tearing mode excitation and control in
high-beta plasmas, (3) nonlinear evolution and control of resistive
wall modes, including toroidal flows, (4) effects of fast ions, such as
fusion-produced alpha particles, on MHD phenomena in tokamak plasmas,
(5) edge MHD-type instabilities and their non-linear evolution, (6)
two-fluid and kinetic effects on MHD modes, and (7) the onset and
evolution of major disruptions.
2. Turbulence and Transport
Applications for studies of microturbulence and transport of
energy, particles and momentum need to address key scientific problems,
such as (1) Bohm versus gyro-Bohm scaling and the transition between
the two regimes, (2) transport barrier formation and dynamics including
the different transport channels, (3) statistics of mesoscale
intermittency in transport (e.g., avalanches), (4) the dynamics of
transport perturbation events such as heat pulse propagation, and (5)
electromagnetic turbulence and electron heat transport due to magnetic
perturbations.
3. Boundary Layer/Edge Plasma Modeling
Applications related to edge modeling should address scientific
issues such as (1) evolution of the edge transport barrier including
the mechanism for L-H mode transition, transport within the edge
barrier, the trigger mechanism for ELM crashes, the frequency of ELM
crashes, and the plasma energy, density and current lost during each
ELM crash, (2) effects associated with the scrape-off layer, diverter
and plasma wall interaction including plasma convective transport to
the wall, neutral recycling, wall erosion, and inward impurity
transport from the wall.
4. Electromagnetic Wave/Plasma Interaction
Applications related to the role of radio frequency waves in
burning plasmas need to address topics such as (1) wave-plasma
interactions in plasmas with a large energetic alpha particle
population and in plasmas with a radio frequency driven high velocity
tail population, (2) the role of non-inductive currents and energetic
particle populations on MHD equilibrium and instabilities in burning
plasmas, such as the effects of localized radio frequency currents or
heating on island formation in neoclassical tearing modes, sawtooth
oscillations and disruptions, (3) the effect of radio frequency on the
control of turbulence and transport barrier formation due to localized
heating, current drive, or radio frequency driven plasma flows, and (4)
the effect of the plasma edge on the antenna and the ability to launch
radio frequency waves in burning plasma experiments.
Collaboration and Coordination
It is expected that all applications submitted in response to this
notice will be for collaborative centers involving more than one
institution. Each institution involved in a proposed collaborative
research project must submit a separate application, identifying the
co-PI who has responsibility for the project research carried out at
that institution. Also, each institution must include a separate Face
Page (DOE F 4650.2), Budget Page (DOE F 4620.1), Assurance of
Compliance (DOE F 1600.5), and FA CERTS for the institution. These
collaborative research applications must include a common technical
description of the overall research project, but must also specify the
distinct scope of the work that will be carried out at each
institution. The primary PI for the collaborative research project
should include a summary budget for the entire project, including
annual funding proposed for each institution and the annual funding
proposed for Scientific Application Partnership Program activities.
Synergistic collaborations with researchers in federal laboratories and
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including
the DOE National Laboratories are encouraged, though no funds will be
provided to these organizations under this Notice.
Further information on preparation of collaborative proposals is
available in the Application Guide for the Office of Science Financial
Assistance Program that is available via the Internet at: http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/Colab.html
.
Since each center will be developing new physics models and
computational tools that are needed for an integrated fusion simulation
capability, it is important that there be good communication between
the different centers. It is also important to have guidance on code
capabilities and development priorities from the broader fusion,
scientific and computational communities. Thus, all successful projects
should plan to work with the SciDAC management structure established by
the Office of Science and the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences at the
beginning of the SciDAC program. The SC SciDAC management team holds an
annual principal investigators meeting to ensure good communication
between the SciDAC applications projects and the SciDAC applied
mathematics and computer science projects. The Office of Fusion Energy
Sciences' oversight of the fusion SciDAC projects includes a program
advisory committee, which holds an annual coordination meeting to
review the progress of each of the fusion SciDAC projects and to
develop priorities for future work.
Program Funding
Approximately $1,700,000 of Fiscal Year 2004 funding will be
available for grant awards in FY 2004. Additional funding for the
proposed project may be available through the Office of
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Advanced Scientific Computing Research for closely related research in
computer science and/or applied mathematics. Applications may request
support for up to three years, with out-year support contingent on the
availability of funds and satisfactory progress. To support multi-
disciplinary, multi-institutional efforts, annual funding levels of up
to $1 million may be requested for the scientific application work and
up to $200,000 per year for the Scientific Application Partnership
Program work.
As required by the SC grant application guide, applicants must
submit their budgets using the Budget Page (DOE Form 4620.1) with one
Budget Page for each year of requested funding. The requested funding
for the proposed work in computer science and applied mathematics
should be included on a separate Budget Page. However, applicants are
also requested to list the proposed computer science and applied
mathematics costs separately in an appendix, as the Office of Advanced
Scientific Computing Research may support this part of the work (up to
about 20 percent of the total project cost). The Office of Fusion
Energy Sciences expects to fund two or three centers, depending on the
size of the awards.
Applications
Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer
review) and will be evaluated against the following criteria listed in
descending order of importance as codified in 10 CFR part 605.10(d)
(http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/605index.html):
1. Scientific and/or technical merit of the project;
2. Appropriateness of the proposed method or approach;
3. Competency of the applicant's personnel and adequacy of the
proposed resources; and
4. Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget.
The evaluation under the first criterion in 10 CFR part 605.10(d),
Scientific and Technical Merit, will pay particular attention to:
(a) The importance of the proposed project to the mission of the
Office of Fusion Energy Sciences;
(b) The potential of the proposed project to advance the state-of-
the-art in computational modeling and simulation of plasma behavior;
and
(c) The need for extraordinary computing resources to address
problems of critical scientific importance to the fusion program and
the demonstrated abilities of the applicants to use terascale
computers.
The evaluation under item 2, Appropriateness of the Proposed Method
or Approach, will also consider the following elements related to
quality of planning and management:
(a) If the project involves more than one scientific code, how the
use of multiple codes will contribute to a coherent set of scientific
objectives that are more readily achieved through the use of multiple
codes;
(b) Soundness of the plan for effective management of the project;
(c) Quality of plan for ensuring communication with math and
computer science projects and with other relevant SciDAC projects;
(d) Viability of plan for verifying and validating the models
developed, including close coupling with experiments for ultimate
validation; and
(e) Quality and clarity of proposed work schedule and deliverables.
Note that external peer reviewers are selected with regard to both
their scientific expertise and the absence of conflict-of-interest
issues. Non-federal reviewers may be used, and submission of an
application constitutes agreement that this is acceptable to the
investigator(s) and the submitting institution.
General information about development and submission of
applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluations and selection
processes, and other policies and procedures may be found in the
Application Guide for the Office of Science (SC) Financial Assistance
Program and in 10 CFR part 605. Electronic access to SC's Financial
Assistance Guide and required forms is made available via the Internet
using the following Web site address: http://www.science.doe.gov/production/grants/grants.html
.
In addition, for this notice, project descriptions must be 25 pages
or less, including tables and figures, but excluding attachments. The
application must also contain an abstract or project summary on a
separate page with the name of the principal investigator, mailing
address, phone, FAX, and email listed. The application must also
include letters of commitment from all non-funded collaborators
(briefly describing the intended contribution of each to the research),
and short curriculum vitae for the principal investigator and any co-
PIs.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program
is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 CFR art 605.
Issued in Washington, DC on: January 14, 2004.
John A. Alleva,
Director, Grants & Contracts Division, Office of Science.
[FR Doc. 04-1201 Filed 1-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P