Plan will provide funding for collaborative research in high energy physics that involves substantial collaboration with Japanese investigators.
October 15, 2020
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a plan to provide $6 million over the next three years for collaborative research in high energy physics that involves substantial collaboration with Japanese investigators. Research is expected to support current experiments or technology development of mutual interest to U.S.-Japan collaborations in the areas of the Higgs boson, neutrinos, rare particles, dark energy, and accelerator and detector technology.
“For over forty years, our strong collaboration with scientists in Japan has enabled us to deepen our understanding of some of the most challenging questions about the universe,” said Dr. Chris Fall, Director of DOE’s Office of Science. “Through this collaborative program, American scientists will strengthen their partnerships with their colleagues in Japan and enable world-leading science that will benefit humanity as a whole.”
Research under this initiative is expected to include experimental work on neutrinos at DOE’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) in Japan, as well as the study of rare particles produced at the SuperKEKB collider at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Japan. Research is also expected in the development of accelerator and detector technologies that will benefit future research on the Higgs boson, dark energy, and other topics in high energy physics.
High energy physics serves as a cornerstone of America’s science efforts. It plays a major role in nurturing top scientific talent and building and sustaining the nation’s scientific workforce.
Applications will be open to DOE national laboratories as lead institutions, with potential subawards to universities, industry, and nonprofit institutions. Each U.S.-Japan collaboration is intended to have its Japanese Principal Investigators apply to a coordinated call by KEK for support in the collaborative activity. DOE awards will be selected by competitive peer review. Strategic coordination between the DOE and KEK will impact the final selections. Total DOE funding is expected to be approximately $6 million for awards lasting up to three years in duration, with funding contingent on congressional appropriations.
More details about the DOE Laboratory Program Announcement “FY 2021 U.S.-Japan Science and Technology Cooperation Program in High Energy Physics”, sponsored by the Office of High Energy Physics (HEP) within the DOE Office of Science, can be found on the HEP funding opportunities page.