The Department of Energy's Office of Science plans to invest $22 million in various research and development projects exploring the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in its Nuclear Physics, or NP, program.

The office on Monday published a notice of funding opportunity for R&D efforts that could help determine the potential of AI/ML across all NP research objectives, including enhancing accelerators and detectors used in NP facilities and scientific instrumentation.

The project also aims to assess the use of AI/ML in nuclear physics computations.

Specific areas of focus include:

These goals align with NP's push to solve technical challenges in the areas of theory, simulations, control, data acquisition and data analysis. By leveraging AI-based approaches, the project intends to tackle these issues faster and accelerate experimental and computational discoveries.

Interested parties may submit a letter of intent by Nov. 14. Applications are due on Jan. 14.