The first U.S. Department of Energy/National Science Foundation annual progress review of the Separator for Capture Reactions (SECAR) recoil separator project took place on 17-18 May. SECAR is being established in the ReA3 Experimental Hall at NSCL by a multi-institutional project team from the University of Notre Dame, Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. SECAR enables direct measurements of astrophysical reaction rates.

The committee assessed the scientific merit, technical progress, integration into NSCL/FRIB, management, budget, schedule and environmental, safety, and health approach. The SECAR team addressed all charge elements. The committee was impressed with the review preparation, level of documentation, and quality of the presentations. It found the science case to be compelling, the technical progress swift, and cost schedule and risk performance appropriate.