[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 12 (Thursday, January 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6315-6317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01236]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Request for Information Related to High Energy Physics and Space-
Based Astrophysics

AGENCY: Office of High Energy Physics (HEP), Office of Science (SC), 
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Astrophysics Division (APD) 
and Biological and Physical Sciences Division (BPS), Science Mission 
Directorate (SMD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA).

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Office of High Energy Physics (HEP) in the Department of 
Energy (DOE) and the Astrophysics Division (APD) and Biological and

[[Page 6316]]

Physical Sciences Division (BPS) in the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) invite interested parties to provide information 
on topics that provide mutually beneficial collaborative activities 
that can further scientific advances in specific, focused areas in the 
fields of high energy physics and space-based astrophysics aligned with 
the science goals of the program offices. This information will inform 
the program offices (HEP, APD, and BPS) on potential partnerships and 
collaborative activities that may be pursued. As additional 
opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between the Parties 
continue to emerge, RFIs for subsequent topics may be released. 
Individuals or collaborations are welcome to respond.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before 
March 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: The DOE Office of Science is using the http://www.regulations.gov system for the submission and posting of public 
comments in this proceeding. All comments in response to this notice 
are therefore to be submitted electronically through http://www.regulations.gov, via the web form accessed by following the 
``Submit a Formal Comment'' link near the top right of the Federal 
Register web page for this document.
    Format: The comments and information provided should be in the form 
of a PDF file, with a minimum 12 point font size and one inch margins. 
The file should be a maximum of 11 pages, with the first page clearly 
listing the focus area, title of the information, author(s) and 
institution(s), and a short abstract. The body of the file (10 pages 
max) should provide the information requested, and responses to the 
specific questions should be clearly labeled according to the labels 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be submitted to Dr. Kathy Turner at 301-903-1759 or by email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#baf2ffea97fbeafe97f8eae997e8fcf3888a888bfac9d9d3dfd4d9df94ded5df94ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aee6ebfe83effeea83ecfefd83fce8e79c9e9c9feeddcdc7cbc0cdcb80cac1cb80c9c1d8">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE HEP and NASA APD and BPS program 
offices request information in the three (3) focused areas described 
below in which cooperation or partnerships between DOE and NASA can 
further scientific advances. The objective of the RFI is to gather 
information about these focused areas, including scientific and 
technology benefits and obstacles, how it will make use of each 
agency's capabilities, infrastructure and resources, and other 
pertinent information.
    The information received in response to this RFI will inform and be 
considered by the DOE and NASA program offices regarding the potential 
development of partnerships and collaborative activities.
    Please note that this RFI is not a Funding Opportunity 
Announcement, a Request for Proposals, or any other form of 
solicitation or bid of DOE or NASA to fund potential research and 
development work.

Focus Area 1

    The radio quiet environment of the Moon's far side offers the 
potential for deployment of sensitive radio telescopes or sensors to 
explore the early eras of the universe or to test the standard 
cosmological model. Information from the community is requested for 
near term contributions or partnerships on planned and future lunar 
surface missions; longer term efforts on a future NASA lunar ground 
station, a lunar orbiting radio telescope, or lunar ground-based far 
side observatory are also of interest. Development of such a mission or 
observatory will be dependent on the National Academies of Science, 
Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal 
Survey study (``Astro2020''), which is expected to report to the 
agencies in spring 2021. Particular areas of interest include sensor 
technology demonstrations and precursor or early science investigations 
as well as fully developed scientific studies on future missions.
    Information is requested pertaining to the following specific 
questions:

Science Topics

    a. What are key science topics aligned with HEP and/or APD science 
drivers which may significantly advance scientific knowledge using a 
lunar far side or orbiting observatory. What are the opportunities and 
challenges to make progress on these topics? Would the efforts to 
achieve these compelling science goals best be done on a lunar surface 
or an orbital platform?
    b. Are precursor scientific measurements or demonstrations needed 
before lunar ground or orbiting platforms can be used, or will need to 
be used, to achieve the compelling science goals?
    c. What key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks are there to 
advancing the scientific research?

Technology Capabilities

    d. What are existing or near-term technology capabilities available 
in HEP and/or APD that can be used to advance these key science goals 
on lunar surface missions currently being developed? What longer term 
technology development is needed for future missions?
    e. Are precursor technology developments or demonstrations needed 
before lunar ground or orbiting platforms would be effective?
    f. What key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks are there to 
advancing the technology development?

Collaboration and Partnerships

    g. What cooperation or partnerships between DOE and NASA could 
further the scientific and technology advances?
    h. What mix of institutions or collaboration models could best 
carry out the envisioned research and/or development?
    i. What resources, capabilities and infrastructure at DOE National 
Laboratories or the NASA Centers (including the Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory (JPL)) would be beneficial for and could accelerate or 
facilitate research in this topic?

Other

    j. Are there other factors, not addressed by the questions above, 
which should be considered in planning HEP and APD activities in this 
subject area?

Focus Area 2

    The International Space Station (ISS) provides a unique platform 
for space-based probes of fundamental physics in a microgravity 
environment. Example topics include the search for dark matter and dark 
energy, the direct detection of gravitational waves, and the test of 
the equivalence principle. Information from the community is requested 
regarding developing and carrying out small experiments on the ISS in 
areas of fundamental physics that are aligned with or are closely 
related to the science goals of HEP, APD, and/or BPS. Experiments on 
the ISS that make use of quantum sensor technologies and capabilities 
in the HEP, APD, or BPS community are of particular interest.
    Information is requested pertaining to the following specific 
questions:

Science Topics

    a. Key science topics aligned with HEP, APD, and/or BPS science 
drivers which may significantly advance scientific knowledge using the 
ISS platform. What are the opportunities and challenges to make 
progress on these topics?
    b. Are precursor scientific measurements or demonstrations needed 
before the ISS platform can be

[[Page 6317]]

used, or needs to be used, to achieve the compelling science goals?
    c. What key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks are there to 
advancing the scientific research?

Technology Capabilities

    d. What are existing or near-term technology capabilities available 
in HEP, APD, or BPS that can be used to advance these key science 
goals? What longer term technology development is need for future 
missions?
    e. How can quantum sensor technologies be used to carry out this 
science, with particular interest in applications unique to the 
microgravity environment?
    f. Are precursor technology developments or demonstrations needed 
before the ISS platform would be effective?
    g. What are key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks to advancing 
the technology development?

Collaboration and Partnerships

    h. What cooperation or partnerships between DOE and NASA could 
further the scientific and technology advances?
    i. What mix of institutions or collaboration models could best 
carry out the envisioned research and/or development?
    j. What resources, capabilities and infrastructure at DOE National 
Laboratories or the NASA Centers (including the Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory (JPL)) would be beneficial for and could accelerate or 
facilitate research in this topic?

Other

    k. Are there other factors, not addressed by the questions above, 
which should be considered in planning HEP, APD or BPS activities in 
this subject area?

Focus Area 3

    DOE is partnering with NSF on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which 
is expected to start operations in Chile in FY2023. The study of the 
nature of dark energy is the primary science goal aligned with HEP. 
NASA is developing the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, planned for 
launch in 2026, and is partnering with the European Space Agency on the 
Euclid mission, planned for launch in 2022. Both these space missions 
have the study of the nature of dark energy as a priority science 
driver. The data from each is also of interest to the wider astronomy 
community for many additional scientific studies.
    Due to the complementary and synergistic capabilities and data, the 
scientific community expects to carry out dark energy investigations 
using all 3 sets of data. Information from the community is requested 
regarding efforts that will enhance or extend the science reach 
provided by these observatories when considered together, including 
development of a common library of simulations and/or capabilities to 
enable joint processing and analysis of the data.
    Information is requested pertaining to the following specific 
questions:

Science Enhancements

    a. What are the key dark energy science areas that will be enhanced 
by these activities? What level of scientific enhancement is expected 
by carrying them out after the datasets are public? What additional 
enhancements are expected if plans are put in place in the near term to 
enable joint data processing and analysis of public data sets?
    b. What is the scope of work required, as well as the opportunities 
and costs?
    c. What are key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks to advancing 
development of these plans?
    d. Are there other science topics besides dark energy that drive 
the requirements for joint data processing or analysis?

Collaboration and Partnerships

    k. What cooperation or partnerships between DOE and NASA could 
further the scientific and technology advances?
    l. What mix of institutions or collaboration models could best 
carry out the envisioned research and/or development?
    m. What resources, capabilities and infrastructure at DOE National 
Laboratories or the NASA Centers (including the Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory (JPL)) would be beneficial for and could accelerate or 
facilitate research in this topic?
    n. Are there other factors, not addressed by the questions above, 
which should be considered in planning HEP and APD activities in this 
subject area?

General Information

    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of 
the referenced materials. Note that comments will be made publicly 
available as submitted. Any information that may be confidential and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should be submitted as described 
below.
    Confidential Business Information: Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information he or she believes to be confidential and 
exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email: One copy 
of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the information 
believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-
confidential'' with the information believed to be confidential 
deleted. Both DOE and NASA will make their own determination about the 
confidential status of the information and treat it according to its 
determination. Factors of interest to DOE and NASA when evaluating 
requests to treat submitted information as confidential include: (1) A 
description of the items; (2) whether and why such items are 
customarily treated as confidential within the industry; (3) whether 
the information is generally known by or available from other sources; 
(4) whether the information has previously been made available to 
others without obligation concerning confidentiality; (5) an 
explanation of the competitive injury to the submitting person which 
would result from public disclosure; (6) when such information might 
lose its confidential character due to the passage of time; and (7) why 
disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on January 14, 
2021, by Chris Fall, Director for the Office of Science, pursuant to 
delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with 
the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For 
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of 
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the 
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document 
of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way 
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on January 14, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-01236 Filed 1-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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