Public Engagement | Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

Making Nuclear Science Accessible

FRIB trains the workforce of tomorrow by sharing the excitement of nuclear science with learners of all ages and backgrounds through innovative, multidisciplinary collaborations that develop skills and spark future careers.

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1 June 2026
10:00 EDT

Design of a High-Power Proton Linac and RFQ for the SSI Energy Amplifier (Postponed) Subcritical Systems Inc. (SSI, Austin, TX) is developing an Energy Amplifier (EA), an accelerator-driven system (ADS) designed for efficient and safe nuclear energy generation. Central to this concept is a high-power continuous-wave (CW) proton accelerator capable of delivering a 1.5 GeV beam to the EA's subcritical assembly at currents up to 14 mA, corresponding to a nominal beam power of 15–20 MW. The accelerator will include a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) and a five-section superconducting linear accelerator (linac). The RFQ bunches and accelerates the proton beam to 5 MeV at 100% duty factor. The RFQ design was optimized using the code RFQ Designer and the beam dynamics were modeled with Toutatis. The superconducting linac is composed of five cryomodule sections employing half-wave resonator (HWR), single-spoke resonator (SSR), and elliptical cavity geometries to efficiently accelerate the beam to a final energy of 1.5 GeV. The linac layout was optimized using GenLinWin for shortest linac length and minimal beam loss. The full beam dynamics throughout the linac were then simulated using the TraceWin. In this seminar, the preliminary designs of both the RFQ and superconducting linac will be presented, and the current design challenges and future work will be discussed.

8 July 2026 – 17 July 2026

DRD1 Gaseous Detectors School The 2026 DRD1 Gaseous Detectors School will be held at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan, USA, from July 8 to July 17, 2026. This school will focus on state-of-the-art gaseous detector technologies, including Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs), (Multi-)Resistive Plate Chambers ((M)RPCs), and wire-based detectors. The program will feature morning lectures by leading international experts, covering a broad range of topics such as the fundamentals of gas detector physics, detector technologies, simulation and modeling, readout systems, manufacturing methods, and applications. Afternoon sessions will be dedicated to hands-on training with various detector technologies, emphasizing practical techniques and methodologies. The school is primarily intended for Ph.D. students and early-career scientists with a strong interest in gaseous detectors or plans to enter the field. Participants will also have the opportunity to present their research during a dedicated poster session. Student registration is free, but participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and personal expenses. Admission to the school is limited to ensure an effective learning environment.

https://indico.cern.ch/event/1572535/

26 July 2026 – 31 July 2026

Physics of Atomic Nuclei Camp (PAN)

Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN) is a free week-long program for U.S. high school students, exploring atomic nuclei's fundamentals and their connections to astrophysics and cosmology, inspiring future scientists.

During PAN, participants engage in hands-on activities led by FRIB faculty, staff, and students, exploring atomic nuclei and their connections to astrophysics. PAN is sponsored by FRIB, which is a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), supporting the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics.

PAN offers:

Insight into research at a top rare-isotope laboratory.
Introductions to astrophysics, precision measurement, and nuclear science.
Opportunities to conduct nuclear physics experiments.
Networking with researchers on diverse scientific questions.
Exploration of various career opportunities in science.
Experience of college life.
Free room and board provided on campus, if needed.

FRIB tours

Curious about what happens in a rare isotope facility? FRIB offers free tours for public, homeschool, private, and parochial schools, and interested members of the public, highlighting the science, people, and career pathways behind the research.

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Learning resources & programs

FRIB offers learning resources and hosts programs for K–12 teachers and students from public, homeschool, private, and parochial schools, designed to inspire curiosity and support hands-on learning.

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FRIB seeks to inspire and prepare the workforce of tomorrow by fostering innovative multidisciplinary collaborations that connect learners of all ages and backgrounds with the excitement of nuclear science.

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Advanced Studies Gateway

The Advanced Studies Gateway is an initiative at FRIB that brings together researchers, innovators, creative thinkers, artists, and performers from all fields and strengthens ties between Michigan State University and the community. Activities include research workshops as well as public talks, concerts, and special events that are free and open to the public.

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MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency at FRIB

This residency fosters collaboration, exploration, experimentation and innovation on MSU’s campus, culminating in the creation of artworks at the intersection of art, science, and technology.

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Questions?

For more information about public engagement at FRIB, or to inquire about arranging a tour, contact the FRIB Outreach Coordinator.