FY2021 Research Opportunities in High Energy Physics

Description

The DOE SC program in High Energy Physics (HEP) hereby announces its interest in new and renewal grant applications for support of research programs in high energy physics. Program Website: https://science.osti.gov/hep/. The mission of the HEP program is to understand how the universe works at its most fundamental level, which is done by discovering the elementary constituents of matter and energy, probing the interactions between them, and exploring the basic nature of space and time. The scientific objectives and priorities for the field recommended by the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP) are detailed in its recent long-range strategic Particle Physics Project Prioritization Plan (P5), available at: https://science.osti.gov/~/media/hep/hepap/pdf/May-2014/FINAL_P5_Report_Interactive_060214.pdf. The HEP program focuses on three (3) experimental scientific frontiers: The Energy Frontier - where powerful accelerators are used to create new particles, reveal their interactions, and investigate fundamental forces; The Intensity Frontier - where intense particle beams and highly sensitive detectors are used to pursue alternate pathways to investigate fundamental forces and particle interactions by studying events that occur rarely in nature, and to provide precision measurements of these phenomena; and The Cosmic Frontier - where non-accelerator-based experiments observe the cosmos and detect cosmic particles, making measurements of natural phenomena that can provide information about the nature of cosmic acceleration, including dark energy and the cosmic microwave background; searching for dark matter particles; and studying properties of the universe that impact our understanding of matter and energy. Together, these three interrelated and complementary discovery frontiers offer the opportunity to answer some of the most basic questions about the world around us. Also integral to the mission of HEP are crosscutting research areas that enable new scientific opportunities by developing the necessary tools and methods for discoveries: Theoretical High Energy Physics, where the vision and mathematical framework for understanding and extending the knowledge of particles, forces, space-time, and the universe are developed; Accelerator Science and Technology Research and Development, where the technologies and basic science needed to design, build, and operate the accelerator facilities essential for making new discoveries are developed; and Detector Research and Development, where the basic science and technologies needed to design and build the High Energy Physics detectors essential for making new discoveries are developed. The three frontiers and the three crosscutting research areas are collectively the six core research subprograms supported by HEP. All applications should address specific research goals in one or more of the six research subprograms (as in the examples given below), explain how the proposed research or technology development supports the broad scientific objectives and mission of the HEP program, and aligns with its priorities. Applications where the investigator is proposing to conduct research across multiple HEP research subprograms during the project period will be considered. Applications for “transitional” scientific research, where the PI(s) are currently working in one HEP research thrust and are interested in developing a new effort in a different HEP research thrust area, are specifically encouraged. For multi-program and transitional efforts, the investigator is encouraged to submit only one application that describes the overall research activity, including the fractional time planned in each subprogram (including a level of effort table), and the timeline for any transitions of effort (as appropriate), to allow reviewers to assess the full scope, relevance and impact of the proposed research in the merit review process. Additional information about the HEP research subprogram areas described above, and in areas (a) through (f) given below, may be found at https://science.osti.gov/hep/research/. Each of the research frontiers is described with a list of currently-supported experiments and facilities. Experiments, facilities, theoretical topics, subjects of research, and multi-institutional cooperative endeavors, in which scientific research is carried out, are referred to as “research thrusts” in this FOA and in the HEP-supported research community. Note that HEP makes no commitment to the future support of currently supported activities: scientific research is a rapidly-changing activity. If you would like to discuss the possible alignment of your research interests with HEP’s frontiers and cross-cutting areas, please direct your inquiries to one of the technical contacts listed below. HEP also invites teams of investigators from multiple institutions to submit applications. Such teams are particularly appropriate when the involvement of multiple institutions permits the formation of larger teams that can address larger questions of scientific inquiry. See discussion on multi-institution collaborative proposals below. Applications that are not in direct support of HEP research (e.g., conferences, experimental operations, conceptual research and development (R&D), design, or fabrication directed towards a specific project, etc.) must not be submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement. They may be submitted to the annual SC Funding Opportunity Announcement or to other applicable SC Funding Opportunity Announcements published at https://www.grants.gov/. Applications submitted to the HEP FOA for support of generic detector R&D efforts should be directed to the Detector Research and Development subprogram research area described below. However, applicants proposing physics studies and pre-conceptual R&D efforts directed towards a specific experiment within an experimental frontier should submit their application to the relevant HEP scientific frontier subprogram research area. Applications for support of accelerator science and technology R&D efforts that are focused specifically on accelerator-based applications outside of HEP are not within the scope of this FOA, and applicants are directed to the DOE SC Engineering and Technology Office.

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