WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide $6 million for research in Quantum Information Science (QIS) with relevance to fusion energy and plasma science. QIS is an emerging multidisciplinary field that seeks to harness exotic quantum effects of matter for computing, information processing, sensing, and other applications.

"We are excited to be starting the process of selecting our first awards in this critical area," said James Van Dam, DOE Acting Associate Director of Science for Fusion Energy Sciences. "Recent community input identified a rich set of compelling research opportunities that have informed our research plans and can help our program build a community of researchers in QIS."

Research to be supported by this program will include, among other potential efforts, the use of quantum computing to solve important fusion and plasma science problems; the development of quantum sensing approaches that can enhance diagnostic capabilities for plasma and fusion science; and the application of high energy density laboratory plasmas to develop novel quantum materials at ultra-high pressures.

Universities, nonprofits, private sector companies, and DOE national laboratories 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 $1.0 million per year, beginning in the current fiscal year. Total planned funding will be $6 million over three years, with outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations.

The DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement and the companion Program Announcement to DOE Laboratories, issued by DOE's Office of Science and titled "Quantum Information Science Research for Fusion Energy Sciences" can be found here.