PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW

OFFICE OF FUSION ENERGY SCIENCES

The Department of Energy sponsors fusion science and technology research as a valuable investment in the clean energy future of this country and the world, as well as to sustain a field of scientific research - plasma physics - that is important in its own right and has produced insights and techniques applicable in other fields of science and industry.  The mission of the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program is to acquire the knowledge base needed for an economically and environmentally attractive fusion energy source.  FES research efforts seek to:  (1) understand the physics of plasmas, the fourth state of matter – plasmas constitute most of the visible universe, both stellar and interstellar, and progress in plasma physics has been the prime engine driving progress in fusion research; (2) identify and explore innovative and cost-effective development paths to fusion energy – the current fusion program encourages research on a wide range of approaches including the Tokamak (the leading power plant candidate), other magnetic configurations, and inertial fusion energy using particle beams, plasma beams, or lasers; and (3) explore the science and technology of energy producing plasmas, the next frontier in fusion research, as a partner in a international effort – reducing costs, avoiding duplication of efforts, and bringing the best available scientific and engineering talent together to seek solutions to complex problems can best be done through the cooperative efforts of the world fusion community.

This is a time of important progress and discovery in fusion research.  The U.S. has joined an international consortium, consisting of the European Union, Japan, China, Russia, Korea, and India, to fabricate and operate the next major step in the fusion energy sciences research program, a facility called “ITER.” ITER will be designed to demonstrate a burning plasma.  The FES program is making great progress in understanding turbulent losses of particles and energy across magnetic field lines used to confine fusion fuels, identifying and exploring innovative approaches to fusion power that may lead to more economical power plants and encouraging private sector interests to apply concepts developed in the fusion research program.  It is felt that small businesses, by performing research within the following technical topics, can make significant contributions to these efforts.  The following topics are restricted to science and technology relevant to magnetically confined plasmas and high energy density physics.  Grant applications pertaining to fusion energy concepts not based specifically on the use of plasmas for producing energy/electricity for non-defense purposes will be declined.

For additional information regarding the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences priorities, click here.

TOPICS:

52. Advanced Technologies and Materials for Fusion Energy Systems

      a.   Plasma Facing Components

      b.   Blanket Materials and Systems

      c.   Superconducting Magnets and Materials

      d.   Structural Materials and Coatings

53. Fusion Science and Technology

      a.   Diagnostics for Magnetic Fusion Plasma Research

      b.   Components for Heating and Fueling of Fusion Plasmas and Tokamak Facility Operations

      c.   Plasma Simulation and Data Analysis

      d.   Components and Modeling Support for Innovative Approaches to Fusion

54. High Energy Density Physics for Inertial Fusion Energy

      a.   Beam Generation, Compression, and Focusing

      b.   Fast Ignition

      c.   Innovative Approaches for Creating and/or Studying States of High Energy Density

 

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