NSF pose: phase II: ecosystem of the applications and libraries for physics simulations (alps)

The National Science Foundation awarded Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University $1,490,730 on June 1, 2026, under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) to transition the Applications and Libraries for Physics Simulations (ALPS) open-source software from a single-research-group model into a collaborative, sustainable ecosystem. ALPS is freely available software used by researchers in over 50 countries to conduct research and education in quantum computing, condensed matter and materials physics, atomic and molecular optics, quantum chemistry, and related fields.

The award funds development of recruitment protocols, training materials, and management structures to establish ALPS as a broadly supported, distributed community effort with clearer leadership. The project establishes infrastructure to sustain code maintainability and quality, improves accessibility and documentation, and develops user training materials. Performance occurs in Blacksburg, Virginia, with performance through May 31, 2028.

Subawards are planned. Northeastern University received a sub-award dated July 27, 2026, and Middle Tennessee State University received a sub-award dated July 24, 2026, both for the same ALPS ecosystem work.

Abstract

Alps, which stands for applications and libraries for physics simulations, is a freely available package of open-source software. This software enables important scientific research and education in various areas of advanced physics research such as quantum computing. IT is used by researchers in over 50 countries and has resulted in thousands of publications. This project will transition alps software development and maintenance from a project largely led by a single research group into a collaborative open-source ecosystem with many participating contributors, putting IT on sustainable long-term footing. Steps to transition alps into an open-source ecosystem includes development of recruitment protocols, trainings, and clear management protocols. Alps will become a broadly supported, distributed community effort with a clearer leadership structure. Alps comprises a wide array of physics modelling software that enables studies of condensed matter and materials physics, quantum computing, atomic and molecular optics, quantum chemistry, and many other areas of physics and engineering. The project establishes infrastructure to sustain maintainability and the quality of the code base, establishes clear recruitment protocols and strategies, improves accessibility and documentation, and develops user training materials. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.