Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
The Facility for Rare Isotopes Beams (FRIB) is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) national user facility supporting the mission of the Office of Nuclear Physics. FRIB will produce large quantities of a wide variety of rare isotopes by breaking stable nuclei into rare isotopes[1] enabling scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes in order to better understand the physics of nuclei, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interactions, and applications for society. The project is funded by DOE-SC, Michigan State University, and the State of Michigan, and is being designed and established by MSU, with construction expected to begin on campus in 2013. It will adjoin and, upon commencement of operations, subsume the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University.[2]
Currently, final design of the FRIB conventional facilities—the tunnel and support buildings—is complete and ready for construction to begin upon approval from the U.S. Department of Energy. Pre-construction site preparation is complete and pilings for the earth-retention system have been placed. Research and development activities have been successfully completed, with much of the R&D work accomplished in collaboration with national laboratories. Final design of the technical systems—accelerator and experimental equipment—is underway and anticipated to be complete in 2014. Project completion is expected in 2021, managing to early completion in 2019.[3]
Across the state of Michigan, business and political leaders have called for continued funding of FRIB in support of scientific discovery, innovation, and economic impact. Articles and editorials are available on the FRIB project web site.[4]
FRIB is expected to provide research opportunities for an international community of approximately 1000 university and laboratory scientists, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students. FRIB will provide researchers with the technical capabilities to study the properties of rare isotopes, and to put this knowledge to use in various applications, including in materials science, nuclear medicine, and the fundamental understanding of nuclear material important to nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship. More than 20 working groups specializing in experimental equipment and scientific topics have been organized through the FRIB Users Organization.[5]
Based on the analyses and recommendations over the last decade, DOE-SC determined that the establishment of a Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a high priority for the future of U.S. nuclear science research. This determination and supporting rationale are reflected in the DOE/ National Science Foundation Nuclear Science Advisory Committee’s 2007 Long Range Plan and the 2003 DOE report, “Facilities for the Future of Science: A Twenty-Year Outlook.”[6]
Developments[edit]
DOE-SC announced the selection of Michigan State University to design and establish FRIB on December 11, 2008 after a rigorous merit review process including a written application, oral presentations, and site visits.[7]
The project earned Critical Decision 1 (CD-1) approval on September 2010 which established a preferred alternative and the associated established cost and schedule ranges.[8]
In April 2012, the project successfully passed a key DOE review process. Budget and scheduling work continue pending final DOE approval.[9]
In September 2012, The MSU Board of Trustees voted to approve a $55 Million FRIB construction budget, in anticipation of DOE approval and subsequent federal funding. At the site, initial foundation and underground construction has begun, final systems design work is in progress, and recruitment of key personnel continues.[10][11]
On December 14, 2012, the MSU Board ofTrustees approved an additional $26 million for construction of an encased duct bank to accommodate dedicated high voltage electrical service from the on-campus power plant.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ "NP Facilities". DOE-SC Nuclear Physics website. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
- ^ "About FRIB". FRIB Project website. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "About FRIB". FRIB Project website. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
- ^ "In the News". frib.msu.edu.
- ^ "FRIB Working Groups". FRIB Users Organization. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
- ^ "Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Updates". DOE Office of Science. December 2008.
- ^ "Fact Sheet: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) Applicant Selection". DOE Office of Science. 11 December 2008.
- ^ Matt Miller (2010-09-09). "Feds OK design concept for MSU nuclear physics facility". Lansing State Journal.
- ^ http://frib.msu.edu/content/msu-board-trustees-approves-next-step-frib
- ^ http://frib.msu.edu/content/msu-board-trustees-approves-next-step-frib
- ^ http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012309070029
- ^ http://statenews.com/article/2012/12/trustees-vote-to-move-forward-with-landon-hall-renovations-portions-of-frib-project
- Eugenie Samuel Reich (2011-08-30). "Isotope factory accelerates". Nature.
- Lori Higgins (2011-01-18). "Nuclear research has MSU beaming". Detroit Free Press.
- Marisa Schultz (2008-12-12). "MSU awarded $550M isotope lab". Detroit News.
- Adrian Cho (2008-12-11). "Michigan State Picked for Half-Billion-Dollar Accelerator". Science.
