DIII-D RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FORUM FOR THE 2019-2020 EXPERIMENTAL CAMPAIGNS

ANNOUNCEMENT

DIII-D RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FORUM FOR THE 2019-2020 EXPERIMENTAL CAMPAIGNS

QUICKLINKS:

• View proposals or Enter a new proposal
  • PEOPLE WITHOUT DIII-D LOGIN: you can still make a proposal by clicking "Submit Request" top right on the above linked page.
• 2019-20 Run Time Guidance detailing thrusts and providing guidance on program focus.
  • Internal: Click HERE for 2019-20 ROF org chart showing Task Forces, Thrusts,  Research Groups and Physics Areas, and their Leaders.
• Click here for the call for proposals with overall perspective and contact details for physics areas.
• 2019-20 DIII-D Strategic Workshop to discuss priorities in physics areas and ideas for thrusts as input to the Run Time Guidance.
• See below for exact sequence of process.

The DIII-D Research Opportunities Forum for the 2019-2020 run campaign is open until early March. The Research Opportunities Forum provides a method for interested scientists to present proposals and ideas for possible research on the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, as well as an opportunity to discuss critical issues for both fusion science and preparations for ITER (see ITER reference documents link in left panel). Proposals should be made by web submission at the above links. These can be presented and discussed amongst the research team at topical break out meetings commencing Feb 12. Some general sessions will also be held for interdisciplinary proposals and for international collaborators. Information on the proposal submission process and the Forum's agenda (as the details become available) can be found on the links to the left.

The 2019-20 campaign will include significant upgrades/additions to the hardware capabilities of DIII-D following the 2018 LTOA.   New ideas for experiments that make use of these capabilities are strongly encouraged. The ROF will be followed by a series of group and task force breakout meetings (structure and contacts described here), to develop run plan proposals for presentation to the DIII-D Director and the Research Council in April 2019.

As in the past, any individual contributor can submit as many proposals to the website as they wish. These proposals will be sorted and distributed to the Thrust, Task Force and physics leaders, or their delegates, to arrive at final priorities for each group, thrust or task force, to be presented to the DIII-D Research Council. DIII-D management will then determine allocation of days for experiments in the Spring 2019 to Summer 2020 period.

Note that a separate process will be undertaken for a possible third Frontiers Science campaign in 2020.

To submit a new proposal for 2019-20 click (Here - ROF 2019-20 View Submissions or Submit New Proposal) and select one of the options in the upper right corner of the proposals window

The DIII-D planning process this year consists of the following elements:

1. Proposal submission: Proposals can be submitted using a web interface. Categories of submission will include both Thrust Areas (about 5-10 days of run time each) and individual research topics (about 2-4 run days each). All individuals and institutions are encouraged to propose experiments that take advantage of the unique capabilities of the DIII-D facility in addressing key fusion science issues. These experimental proposals may be as small as a portion of a shot or may require several days to complete. See the link in the upper left for submission of ideas. Proposals can be submitted throughout the planning process described below.
2. Determine the key priorities of the experimental program: This will be determined by the DIII-D management with the advice of the DIII-D Research Council, and in consideration of proposed Physics Area Goals from the group leaders, and finalized in consideration of points raised at the ROF. Run time guidance will be issued in January 2019, which will outline the Thrusts and High Priority Research Topics for the DIII-D Experimental Campaign, and the associated Task Forces (see link left).
3. Selection of Experiments to Run: The various research area leaders will organize breakout meetings subsequent to the ROF in which the proponents of the proposals will discuss and determine which proposals can be combined effectively, leading to a proposed plan for the 2019-20 experimental plan. This plan will be presented to the DIII-D Director around the middle of March for consideration of the final allocation of experimental time among the various areas. It is anticipated that a final notification of the allocations will be distributed soon after.

The Research planning steps are as set out below in detail:

• Strategic Planning Workshops to discuss key priorities for next years among technical experts - December 2018
• Proposals for near term priorities from group leaders to Research Council end of early-January 2019
  • Run time guidance on some major priorities is provided here
• Opening of web based proposals system for Research Opportunities Forum - mid-January 2019
• Web based Research Opportunities Forum - Feb 12-14, 2019 - link here - OPEN
  • All interested participants are invited to make their proposals
  • Break out sessions by physics areas, thrust and task force teams to select and prioritize the program (mid-Feb to mid-March 2019  - all meetings listed here
• Second Research Council to review and advice on allocation of run time - mid-late March 2019
  • Commencement of mini-proposal drafting straight after RC
• Program Run Time Allocation to be confirmed by mid-late April 2019
• Start of Experimental Campaign - May 13, 2019

Groups should develop a three year perspective on program goals, and identify steps for this year (2019) and  for the following year (2020), in order to plan more strategically and consider sequencing of research, or enabling greater prioritization of certain topics in a particular year.  This planning process will cover the combined 2019 and 2020 run campaigns (~32 run weeks total) but a review of the developing prioritization of experiments is anticipated sometime during the campaign (likely around the time of the fall meetings in 2019).

More Information:
Please contact Dr. Max Fenstermacher at
Phone: 858-455-4159
Fax: 858-455-4156