In the News
External news and journal publications discussing FRIB science.
The synthesis of heavy elements in stars is one of the main puzzles of nuclear astrophysics. Scientists at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams recently introduced a new stellar process, the intermediate “i" process, to explain new astronomical observations. Researchers need accurate nuclear input to identify the stellar site of the i-process. Scientists have now reported on the measurement of a nuclear reaction that affects the production of lanthanum in the i-process. The researchers have shown that the proposed i-process conditions are viable and can explain astronomical observations.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) posted a highlight titled “Nuclear physics experiment helps identify conditions for a new astrophysical process” about how scientists have reported on the measurement of a nuclear reaction that affects the production of lanthanum in the i-process. The researchers have shown that the proposed i-process conditions are viable and can explain astronomical observations. Authors of the publication are from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University and Argonne National Laboratory. Each year, scientists publish thousands of research findings in the scientific literature. About 200 of these are selected annually by their respective program areas in DOE-SC as publication highlights of special note.
Ohio University’s Christian Drischler is building a strong foundation for a lifetime of leadership in research and education. Drischler is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences and bridge faculty of the FRIB Theory Alliance who conducts research at the intersection of theoretical nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics. His projects will advance the scientific community's understanding of these complex fields, support Ohio students and educate the community through accessible learning events.
The Michigan State University (MSU) Museum is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition by Berlin-based Studio Korinsky, inspired by Abel Korinsky’s MSUFCU Arts Power Up Artist-in-Residence. The exhibition will launch the Museum’s new temporary space at 311 Abbot in downtown East Lansing. A public opening reception will take place on Saturday, 5 October 2024, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Artist Abel Korinsky spent three transformative months in residence at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a world-unique rare isotope research facility.
Michigan State University leaders hosted U.S. Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal to share information about MSU’s programs and impact on the future of higher education. Under Secretary Kvaal, who came to campus on 4 September as part of a nationwide higher education listening tour, visited two of MSU’s key facilities, including the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility.
Recently, an international team, including researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, obtained new experimental data that clarifies how some of the heaviest elements in the universe are formed in stars. This discovery begins to answer fundamental questions about our origins.
Recently, an international team, including researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, obtained new experimental data that clarifies how some of the heaviest elements in the universe are formed in stars. This discovery begins to answer fundamental questions about our origins. In particular, the team obtained the first experimental constraints for measuring the rate of the process in which neutrons collide and merge with a nucleus of the isotope barium-139 to form barium-140.
Recently, an international team, including researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, obtained new experimental data that clarifies how some of the heaviest elements in the universe are formed in stars. This discovery begins to answer fundamental questions about our origins. The findings are published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) posted a highlight titled “'Mirror' nuclei help connect nuclear theory and neutron stars” about researchers using laser spectroscopy measurements of atomic isotope shifts to measure the nuclear radius of different silicon isotopes. Authors of the publication are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. Each year, scientists publish thousands of research findings in the scientific literature. About 200 of these are selected annually by their respective program areas in DOE-SC as publication highlights of special note.
Laurent Bili, the Ambassador of France to the United States, visited the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, at Michigan State University on 22 July. The French research organization National Centre for Scientific Research, or CNRS, and MSU established the International Research Laboratory on Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, or IRL NPA, at FRIB in July 2023. Leveraging FRIB’s world-unique research capabilities, IRL NPA is located at FRIB and dedicated to answering fundamental nuclear physics and astrophysics research questions.
In a recent study published in the journal Physical Review Letters, a team of researchers, including a scientist from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, has challenged the accuracy of current theoretical models describing helium's transition from its ground to its first excited state. By studying this process through electron scattering, they uncovered a discrepancy between experimental and theoretical results. To address this, a multidisciplinary team has undertaken a fresh calculation of the observed transition.
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC) posted a highlight titled “Exciting the alpha particle” about a recent experiment in Germany that studied the helium-4 nucleus, also known as an alpha particle. Authors of the publication are from University of Bonn (Germany), Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University (Turkey), and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. Each year, scientists publish thousands of research findings in the scientific literature. About 200 of these are selected annually by their respective program areas in DOE-SC as publication highlights of special note.
