Notice of Intent and Request for Information: Quantum Information Science Centers, 22834-22836 [2019-10427]

Download as PDF 22834 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices experiment aims to test whether participation in high-quality educational opportunities increases after access to financial aid for incarcerated adults is expanded and to examine how waiving the restriction influences individual academic and life outcomes. This is a reinstatement of the information collection instrument that is used by the Department to select qualified institutions. Dated: May 15, 2019. Kate Mullan, PRA Coordinator, Information Collection Clearance Program, Information Management Branch, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2019–10453 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Notice of Intent and Request for Information: Quantum Information Science Centers Offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), Basic Energy Sciences (BES), and High Energy Physics (HEP), Office of Science, Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) and request for information (RFI). AGENCY: The Office of Science (SC) in the Department of Energy (DOE) intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 entitled ‘‘Quantum Information Science Centers,’’ subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The participating program offices in SC invite interested parties to provide input on the topic areas, organization, requirements, review criteria, and assessment process to be described in this FOA. DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before July 5, 2019. ADDRESSES: The DOE Office of Science is using the https://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 https:// 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 notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information may be submitted to Dr. Ceren Susut, (301) 903–0366, QIS-Centers-RFI@ science.doe.gov. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 May 17, 2019 Jkt 247001 Quantum information science (QIS)—the ability to exploit intricate quantum mechanical phenomena to create fundamentally new ways of obtaining and processing information—is at the threshold of a revolution. The rapid progress in this field promises profound impacts in the coming decades on scientific discovery and technological innovation. In competitive terms, QIS is creating potentially transformative opportunities and technically complex, urgent challenges for the Nation, as growing international interest and investments fuel accelerating global activity in quantum science and technology. These opportunities and challenges demand a long-term, large-scale commitment of U.S. scientific and technological resources to multi-institutional, multidisciplinary efforts that are commensurate with world leadership in this pivotal field. This has been recognized on the Federal level with the recent issuance of a National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science in September 2018 1 and the subsequent enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Act in December 2018.2 DOE, with its unparalleled breadth and depth of activity as the Nation’s leading supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, and drawing on the unique expertise and capabilities of the DOE National Laboratory complex, has key resources and infrastructure that are integral to this strategic and targeted U.S. initiative. DOE SC’s activities in QIS are driven by its mission needs and connect to the specific foci of its subsidiary program offices, and will be enhanced by strategic partnerships and collaborations among SC program offices and between SC and other Federal agencies. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science (SC) hereby announces its intent to issue a FOA seeking to establish two or more multidisciplinary Quantum Information Science Centers to perform research to address the opportunities and challenges referred to above and described in the referenced documents. This is a Notice of Intent (NOI) only. DOE–SC may issue a FOA as described herein, may issue a FOA that is significantly different than the FOA described herein, or DOE–SC may not issue a FOA at all. In addition, DOE–SC seeks input from stakeholders regarding the potential FOA, including SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1 National Science and Technology Council publication, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2018/09/National-StrategicOverview-for-Quantum-Information-Science.pdf. 2 Public Law 115–368, https://www.congress.gov/ 115/bills/hr6227/BILLS-115hr6227enr.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the topic areas, organization, requirements, review criteria, and assessment process of prospective QIS Centers. The information received in response to this RFI will inform and be considered by the Office of Science in program planning and development. Please be aware that this notice (NOI and RFI) is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement, a Request for Proposal, or other form of solicitation, or bid of DOE to fund potential research, development, planning, centers, or other activity. Notice of Intent: The Office of Science (SC) intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled ‘‘Quantum Information Science Centers’’ in FY 2020, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. This FOA will seek applications for two or more DOE QIS Centers (referred to as ‘‘Centers’’) to support the National Quantum Initiative enacted by Congress in December 2018, and to accelerate the transformational advances in basic science and quantum-based technology. The purpose of these Centers will be to push the current state-of-the-art science and technology toward realizing the full potential of quantum-based applications, from computing, to communication, to sensing. The interdisciplinary nature of the field, the reliance on complex, sophisticated, and precise physical arrangements in order to observe and utilize quantum behavior, and the potential for substantial economic consequences are the major drivers of the National Quantum Initiative. The SC QIS Centers, coupled with a robust core research portfolio stewarded by the individual SC programs, will create the ecosystem needed to foster and facilitate advancement of QIS with public benefits in national security, economic competitiveness, and leadership in scientific discovery. The Centers will require highly collaborative research teams, spanning multiple scientific and engineering disciplines. It is anticipated that all types of domestic entities, including DOE/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) contractors, will be eligible to apply as prime applicants, with the exception of other Federal agencies, non-DOE/NNSA FFRDC contractors, and certain nonprofit organizations engaged in lobbying. By bringing together top talent from across the full spectrum of research and development (R&D) performers— including universities, private industry, non-profits, and National Laboratories— the Centers will serve as world-leading E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM 20MYN1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices R&D centers in Quantum Information Science. Successful QIS Centers will be expected to demonstrate the following attributes: • Attack a major challenge of sufficient difficulty and urgency to warrant a large, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary effort over a significant time period. The potential impact of success must be large. • Advance both science and technology in its focus area, accelerating progress from discovery to prototypical technology and use-inspired research, taking advantage of co-design approaches that integrate these stages and incorporate feedbacks between them. • Achieve self-integration across the science and engineering disciplines that it spans to accomplish its mission; in its vein, SC expects the center to catalyze integration in the wider scientific/ technical community related to its focus area. • Utilize well-structured ‘‘projectized’’ approach with clearly defined near, intermediate, and longterm goals for assessing progress. • Led by a team of experts in the multiple disciplines that blend basic scientific research, early stage technology development, engineering design, and prototype development, drawing on expertise from DOE labs, academic institutions, and industry as appropriate. • Serve as national resources, conveners, and leaders in their technical domains. The QIS Center effort is being jointly supported by multiple programs within DOE SC in recognition that the rapidly advancing progress in QIS is inherently multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. QIS Centers are intended to complement the existing base research and other activities within individual program offices, and to represent coherent efforts beyond the scope of what would normally be supported by those programs individually. Request for Information: The objective of this request for information is to gather input about the topic areas, organization, requirements, review criteria, and assessment process for prospective QIS Centers, in order to inform the DOE SC formulation of the corresponding FOA. Technical Areas of Interest that have been identified for the QIS Centers include the following. Subsidiary bullets provide examples of subtopics that would be valuable to address, but these lists should not be considered exhaustive. It is expected that each Center will address the mission needs of VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 May 17, 2019 Jkt 247001 more than one DOE SC program office, integrate elements from multiple such topical areas, and have national scope and impact. Quantum Communication —Requirements for materials research for quantum communication applications —Requirements for scalable and adaptable quantum network infrastructures designed to support the transmission of diverse types of quantum information —Fundamental limits on information transfer in quantum systems —Communication techniques and tools exploiting entanglement —Test facilities to support network development and test Materials and Chemistry for QIS Systems and Applications —Fundamental theory of materials and molecular systems for quantum applications —Research leading to materials and molecular systems that control quantum phenomena to meet quantum communication, computation, and sensor requirements —Fundamental research on device physics for next generation QIS systems, including interface science and modeling of materials performance —Synthesis, characterization, and fabrication research for quantum materials and processes, including integration in novel device architectures Qubit Devices and Sensors for QIS Applications and for Research Supported by SC —Development of requirements for qubit devices for quantum sensor and detector applications —Development of devices to meet quantum communication or quantum computation application requirements —Progress on quantum-enabled imaging devices or systems, such as for softmatter imaging, magnetic mapping, or improved microscopy —Development of integration, interface, transduction, and control schemes for quantum device arrays —Improving device coherence, qubit lifetime, and other performance parameters —Modeling of device and controls performance —Synthesis and fabrication of engineered quantum devices Quantum Emulation and Computing —System architecture selection and optimization for problem domains studied by SC-supported investigators PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22835 —Qubit device requirements to match architectural plans —Programming paradigms and algorithms on selected architectures —Programmable modular quantum emulator development addressing uses for SC-supported researchers (incorporating requirements input from all SC offices), including analog simulators —System integration of emulation, quantum communication, and quantum compute systems from device/array level up —System testbeds for performance measurement and algorithm development; modeling and integration of computing/ communication —Fundamental limits of quantum computation Quantum Foundries —Synthesis of quantum materials, structures, and devices with atomic precision —Fabrication and integration of photon and spin qubit systems —Advanced instrumentation and tool development for quantum computers, sensors, and metrology —Facilities to support device test, packaging, and integration The participating program offices of DOE SC are specifically interested in receiving input pertaining to any of the following questions: (1) Topical Areas and Scope Are the topic areas listed above adequately defined? Should DOE SC consider removing, or consolidating, any of the subtopics in these areas? Conversely, are there aspects of quantum information science that are closely tied to DOE SC missions but missing from the above topics? If so, are there other subtopics or components that should be considered for inclusion under the listed topic areas? What is the appropriate period of performance for the proposed Centers? How might the DOE SC program offices consider evaluating or weighting proposed Centers that respond to multiple topic areas? (2) Collaboration and Partnerships What partnership and collaboration models would be most effective in furthering QIS Center goals? What is the appropriate role of industry in the proposed Centers? What approaches or concerns with respect to intellectual property rights should be considered for the envisioned Centers? What external resources or capabilities are valuable or necessary for such QIS Centers? E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM 20MYN1 22836 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices (3) Management and Organization What are effective models for management of Centers of the proposed scale and scope? How should Centers be managed to promote the desired synergy of their participants and disciplines? What extent of co-location is optimal, or necessary, for a QIS Center to be effective and coherent? (4) Assessment and Criteria for Success What kinds of metrics or criteria would be useful in measuring the success of a QIS Center and its impact on the field? What metrics or criteria should be used to assess the extent to which the proposed Centers are using an effective co-design approach that integrates the stages from scientific discovery to use-inspired research and incorporates feedbacks between them? khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES (5) National Impact and Contribution to/Alignment With NQI (and) Unique DOE Role and Contribution How can these QIS Centers contribute to advancement of the field in ways that are not possible with other existing or envisioned centers (supported by DOE, other Federal agencies, or non-Federal sources)? How do they complement and build on existing research programs and facilities supported by ASCR, BES, and HEP? (6) Other What are key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks to progress by and success of interdisciplinary QIS Centers? Are there other factors, issues, or opportunities, not addressed by the questions above, which should be considered in the establishment of QIS Centers by DOE SC? 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. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential status of the information and treat it according to its VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:41 May 17, 2019 Jkt 247001 determination. Factors of interest to DOE 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. Signed in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2019. J. Stephen Binkley, Deputy Director for Science Programs, Office of Science. [FR Doc. 2019–10427 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Agency Information Collection Extension Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. ACTION: Submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review; comment request. AGENCY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted an information collection request to the OMB for extension under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection requests a threeyear extension of its Better Buildings Challenge; Better Buildings Alliance; Better Buildings, Better Plants Voluntary Pledge Program, OMB Control Number 1910–5141. The proposed collection will be used to report the progress of participants in the DOE Better Buildings programs, including the Better Buildings Challenge, Better Buildings, Better Plants program, and the Better Buildings Alliance. These voluntary programs are intended to drive greater energy efficiency in the commercial and industrial marketplace to create savings and jobs. This will be accomplished by highlighting the ways participants overcome market barriers and persistent obstacles with replicable, marketplace solutions. These programs will showcase real solutions and partner with industry leaders to better SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 understand policy and technical opportunities. Comments regarding this collection must be received on or before June 19, 2019. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, please advise the OMB Desk Officer of your intention to make a submission as soon as possible. The Desk Officer may be telephoned at (202) 395–4718. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the DOE Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10102, 735 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. And to Andre de Fontaine, EE–5A/ Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at (202) 586–9234 or by email at andre.defontaine@ee.doe.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Andre de Fontaine, EE–5A/ Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at 202–586–9234 or by email at andre.defontaine@ee.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request contains: (1) OMB No.: 1910–5141; (2) Information Collection Request Title: Better Buildings Challenge; Better Buildings Alliance; Better Buildings, Better Plants Voluntary Pledge Program; (3) Type of Request: Renewal, with changes; (4) Purpose: This Information Collection Request applies to three Department of Energy (DOE) voluntary leadership initiatives that fall under the Better Buildings Initiative: (A) The Better Buildings Challenge; (B) the Better Buildings, Better Plants Program; and (C) the Better Buildings Alliance. New information is being collected to provide partners with two new recognition opportunities. Additionally, other pre-existing collection forms are being amended for clarity and to reduce burden on respondents. Finally, the total number of respondents for individual program areas is being adjusted to align with practical experience and to account for the fact that certain one-time reporting requirements have already been satisfied by a majority of the participants.; (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 830; (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 857; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 2292.25.; (8) DATES: E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM 20MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22834-22836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10427]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Intent and Request for Information: Quantum Information 
Science Centers

AGENCY: Offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), Basic 
Energy Sciences (BES), and High Energy Physics (HEP), Office of 
Science, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) and request for information (RFI).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Science (SC) in the Department of Energy (DOE) 
intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2020 entitled ``Quantum Information Science Centers,'' 
subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The participating 
program offices in SC invite interested parties to provide input on the 
topic areas, organization, requirements, review criteria, and 
assessment process to be described in this FOA.

DATES: Written comments and information are requested on or before July 
5, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The DOE Office of Science is using the https://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 https://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 notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be submitted to Dr. Ceren Susut, (301) 903-0366, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Quantum information science (QIS)--the 
ability to exploit intricate quantum mechanical phenomena to create 
fundamentally new ways of obtaining and processing information--is at 
the threshold of a revolution. The rapid progress in this field 
promises profound impacts in the coming decades on scientific discovery 
and technological innovation. In competitive terms, QIS is creating 
potentially transformative opportunities and technically complex, 
urgent challenges for the Nation, as growing international interest and 
investments fuel accelerating global activity in quantum science and 
technology. These opportunities and challenges demand a long-term, 
large-scale commitment of U.S. scientific and technological resources 
to multi-institutional, multidisciplinary efforts that are commensurate 
with world leadership in this pivotal field. This has been recognized 
on the Federal level with the recent issuance of a National Strategic 
Overview for Quantum Information Science in September 2018 \1\ and the 
subsequent enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Act in December 
2018.\2\ DOE, with its unparalleled breadth and depth of activity as 
the Nation's leading supporter of basic research in the physical 
sciences, and drawing on the unique expertise and capabilities of the 
DOE National Laboratory complex, has key resources and infrastructure 
that are integral to this strategic and targeted U.S. initiative. DOE 
SC's activities in QIS are driven by its mission needs and connect to 
the specific foci of its subsidiary program offices, and will be 
enhanced by strategic partnerships and collaborations among SC program 
offices and between SC and other Federal agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ National Science and Technology Council publication, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Strategic-Overview-for-Quantum-Information-Science.pdf.
    \2\ Public Law 115-368, https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr6227/BILLS-115hr6227enr.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science (SC) hereby 
announces its intent to issue a FOA seeking to establish two or more 
multidisciplinary Quantum Information Science Centers to perform 
research to address the opportunities and challenges referred to above 
and described in the referenced documents. This is a Notice of Intent 
(NOI) only. DOE-SC may issue a FOA as described herein, may issue a FOA 
that is significantly different than the FOA described herein, or DOE-
SC may not issue a FOA at all. In addition, DOE-SC seeks input from 
stakeholders regarding the potential FOA, including the topic areas, 
organization, requirements, review criteria, and assessment process of 
prospective QIS Centers. The information received in response to this 
RFI will inform and be considered by the Office of Science in program 
planning and development. Please be aware that this notice (NOI and 
RFI) is not a Funding Opportunity Announcement, a Request for Proposal, 
or other form of solicitation, or bid of DOE to fund potential 
research, development, planning, centers, or other activity.
    Notice of Intent: The Office of Science (SC) intends to issue a 
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled ``Quantum Information 
Science Centers'' in FY 2020, subject to the availability of 
appropriated funds.
    This FOA will seek applications for two or more DOE QIS Centers 
(referred to as ``Centers'') to support the National Quantum Initiative 
enacted by Congress in December 2018, and to accelerate the 
transformational advances in basic science and quantum-based 
technology.
    The purpose of these Centers will be to push the current state-of-
the-art science and technology toward realizing the full potential of 
quantum-based applications, from computing, to communication, to 
sensing. The interdisciplinary nature of the field, the reliance on 
complex, sophisticated, and precise physical arrangements in order to 
observe and utilize quantum behavior, and the potential for substantial 
economic consequences are the major drivers of the National Quantum 
Initiative. The SC QIS Centers, coupled with a robust core research 
portfolio stewarded by the individual SC programs, will create the 
ecosystem needed to foster and facilitate advancement of QIS with 
public benefits in national security, economic competitiveness, and 
leadership in scientific discovery.
    The Centers will require highly collaborative research teams, 
spanning multiple scientific and engineering disciplines. It is 
anticipated that all types of domestic entities, including DOE/National 
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Federally Funded Research and 
Development Center (FFRDC) contractors, will be eligible to apply as 
prime applicants, with the exception of other Federal agencies, non-
DOE/NNSA FFRDC contractors, and certain nonprofit organizations engaged 
in lobbying. By bringing together top talent from across the full 
spectrum of research and development (R&D) performers--including 
universities, private industry, non[hyphen]profits, and National 
Laboratories--the Centers will serve as world[hyphen]leading

[[Page 22835]]

R&D centers in Quantum Information Science.
    Successful QIS Centers will be expected to demonstrate the 
following attributes:
     Attack a major challenge of sufficient difficulty and 
urgency to warrant a large, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary 
effort over a significant time period. The potential impact of success 
must be large.
     Advance both science and technology in its focus area, 
accelerating progress from discovery to prototypical technology and 
use-inspired research, taking advantage of co-design approaches that 
integrate these stages and incorporate feedbacks between them.
     Achieve self-integration across the science and 
engineering disciplines that it spans to accomplish its mission; in its 
vein, SC expects the center to catalyze integration in the wider 
scientific/technical community related to its focus area.
     Utilize well-structured ``projectized'' approach with 
clearly defined near, intermediate, and long-term goals for assessing 
progress.
     Led by a team of experts in the multiple disciplines that 
blend basic scientific research, early stage technology development, 
engineering design, and prototype development, drawing on expertise 
from DOE labs, academic institutions, and industry as appropriate.
     Serve as national resources, conveners, and leaders in 
their technical domains.
    The QIS Center effort is being jointly supported by multiple 
programs within DOE SC in recognition that the rapidly advancing 
progress in QIS is inherently multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. 
QIS Centers are intended to complement the existing base research and 
other activities within individual program offices, and to represent 
coherent efforts beyond the scope of what would normally be supported 
by those programs individually.
    Request for Information: The objective of this request for 
information is to gather input about the topic areas, organization, 
requirements, review criteria, and assessment process for prospective 
QIS Centers, in order to inform the DOE SC formulation of the 
corresponding FOA.
    Technical Areas of Interest that have been identified for the QIS 
Centers include the following. Subsidiary bullets provide examples of 
subtopics that would be valuable to address, but these lists should not 
be considered exhaustive. It is expected that each Center will address 
the mission needs of more than one DOE SC program office, integrate 
elements from multiple such topical areas, and have national scope and 
impact.

Quantum Communication

--Requirements for materials research for quantum communication 
applications
--Requirements for scalable and adaptable quantum network 
infrastructures designed to support the transmission of diverse types 
of quantum information
--Fundamental limits on information transfer in quantum systems
--Communication techniques and tools exploiting entanglement
--Test facilities to support network development and test

Materials and Chemistry for QIS Systems and Applications

--Fundamental theory of materials and molecular systems for quantum 
applications
--Research leading to materials and molecular systems that control 
quantum phenomena to meet quantum communication, computation, and 
sensor requirements
--Fundamental research on device physics for next generation QIS 
systems, including interface science and modeling of materials 
performance
--Synthesis, characterization, and fabrication research for quantum 
materials and processes, including integration in novel device 
architectures

Qubit Devices and Sensors for QIS Applications and for Research 
Supported by SC

--Development of requirements for qubit devices for quantum sensor and 
detector applications
--Development of devices to meet quantum communication or quantum 
computation application requirements
--Progress on quantum-enabled imaging devices or systems, such as for 
soft-matter imaging, magnetic mapping, or improved microscopy
--Development of integration, interface, transduction, and control 
schemes for quantum device arrays
--Improving device coherence, qubit lifetime, and other performance 
parameters
--Modeling of device and controls performance
--Synthesis and fabrication of engineered quantum devices

Quantum Emulation and Computing

--System architecture selection and optimization for problem domains 
studied by SC-supported investigators
--Qubit device requirements to match architectural plans
--Programming paradigms and algorithms on selected architectures
--Programmable modular quantum emulator development addressing uses for 
SC-supported researchers (incorporating requirements input from all SC 
offices), including analog simulators
--System integration of emulation, quantum communication, and quantum 
compute systems from device/array level up
--System testbeds for performance measurement and algorithm 
development; modeling and integration of computing/communication
--Fundamental limits of quantum computation

Quantum Foundries

--Synthesis of quantum materials, structures, and devices with atomic 
precision
--Fabrication and integration of photon and spin qubit systems
--Advanced instrumentation and tool development for quantum computers, 
sensors, and metrology
--Facilities to support device test, packaging, and integration

    The participating program offices of DOE SC are specifically 
interested in receiving input pertaining to any of the following 
questions:

(1) Topical Areas and Scope

    Are the topic areas listed above adequately defined? Should DOE SC 
consider removing, or consolidating, any of the subtopics in these 
areas? Conversely, are there aspects of quantum information science 
that are closely tied to DOE SC missions but missing from the above 
topics? If so, are there other subtopics or components that should be 
considered for inclusion under the listed topic areas? What is the 
appropriate period of performance for the proposed Centers? How might 
the DOE SC program offices consider evaluating or weighting proposed 
Centers that respond to multiple topic areas?

(2) Collaboration and Partnerships

    What partnership and collaboration models would be most effective 
in furthering QIS Center goals? What is the appropriate role of 
industry in the proposed Centers? What approaches or concerns with 
respect to intellectual property rights should be considered for the 
envisioned Centers? What external resources or capabilities are 
valuable or necessary for such QIS Centers?

[[Page 22836]]

(3) Management and Organization

    What are effective models for management of Centers of the proposed 
scale and scope? How should Centers be managed to promote the desired 
synergy of their participants and disciplines? What extent of co-
location is optimal, or necessary, for a QIS Center to be effective and 
coherent?

(4) Assessment and Criteria for Success

    What kinds of metrics or criteria would be useful in measuring the 
success of a QIS Center and its impact on the field? What metrics or 
criteria should be used to assess the extent to which the proposed 
Centers are using an effective co-design approach that integrates the 
stages from scientific discovery to use-inspired research and 
incorporates feedbacks between them?

(5) National Impact and Contribution to/Alignment With NQI (and) Unique 
DOE Role and Contribution

    How can these QIS Centers contribute to advancement of the field in 
ways that are not possible with other existing or envisioned centers 
(supported by DOE, other Federal agencies, or non-Federal sources)? How 
do they complement and build on existing research programs and 
facilities supported by ASCR, BES, and HEP?

(6) Other

    What are key obstacles, impediments, or bottlenecks to progress by 
and success of interdisciplinary QIS Centers? Are there other factors, 
issues, or opportunities, not addressed by the questions above, which 
should be considered in the establishment of QIS Centers by DOE SC?
    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. DOE will make its own determination about the confidential 
status of the information and treat it according to its determination. 
Factors of interest to DOE 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.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2019.
J. Stephen Binkley,
Deputy Director for Science Programs, Office of Science.
[FR Doc. 2019-10427 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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