Andrew Rogers, the first FRIB Visiting Scholar for Experimental Science, spent his time at FRIB preparing for an experiment to explore isomers in the neutron-rich hafnium region.

While at Michigan State University (MSU) as FRIB Visiting Scholar for Experimental Science during the summer of 2016, Rogers prepared for several upcoming experiments explore long-lived excited states in neutron-rich nuclei, and advanced his expertise on a new digital data-acquisition system. This included focusing on current and future measurements to examine the proton decay of the isotope Rubidium-73 (⁷³Rb), important for the Krypton-72 (⁷²Kr) rapid  proton capture process (rp-process) waiting point, as well as preparing for a future heavy-beam experiment at NSCL to better constrain the rapid neutron capture process (r process).

Rogers is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Applied Physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Since obtaining his PhD in Physics from MSU in 2009, followed by postdoctoral positions at Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, he has been an active researcher at NSCL. Rogers’s primary research interests relate to topics in nuclear astrophysics and the physics of rare isotopes. In particular, his research is currently focused on measurements of neutron-deficient systems along the proton drip-line key to understanding the rp process and the limits of nuclear stability.

FRIB initiated the FRIB Visiting Scholar Program for Experimental Science to encourage and help junior/non-tenured faculty members to establish a research program at FRIB. The award supports short-term stays at FRIB for junior/non-tenured faculty or staff members with of a stipend of $5,000 intended for travel and local expenses. Two FRIB Visiting Scholars were named for 2017, Adam Fritsch and Andrew Klose.