Making Nuclear Science Accessible

FRIB aims to share the excitement of nuclear science with everyone through innovative and multi-disciplinary collaborations that engage learners of all ages and backgrounds.

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  • 7 April 2026
  • 11:00 EDT
 Mean-field approximation on steroids: exact description of the deuteron In this talk, we will demonstrate that the deuteron, i.e., the lightest bound nuclear system made of a single proton and a single neutron, can be accurately described within a mean-field-based framework. Although paradoxical at first glance, we will show that the deuteron ground-state binding energy, magnetic dipole moment, electric quadrupole moment, and root-mean-square proton radius can indeed be reproduced with sub-percent accuracy via a low-dimensional linear combination of non-orthogonal Bogoliubov states, i.e., with a method whose numerical cost scales as n^4, where n is the dimension of the basis of the one-body Hilbert space. By further putting the system into a harmonic trap, the neutron-proton scattering length and effective range in the 3S1 channel are also accurately reproduced. To achieve this task, (i) the inclusion of proton-neutron pairing through the mixing of proton and neutron single-particle states in the Bogoliubov transformation and (ii) the restoration of proton and neutron numbers before variation are shown to be mandatory ingredients. This unexpected result has implications regarding the most efficient way to capture necessary correlations as a function of nuclear mass in ab initio frameworks based on modern chiral interactions. In particular, this work illustrates the power of the symmetry-breaking and -restoration techniques, which have been traditionally employed within the context of energy density functional calculations but also gained popularity in ab initio methods in recent years.
  • 8 April 2026
  • 3:30 EDT
 Neutron Lifetime Experiments with Cold Neutron Beams at NIST Neutron beta decay is the simplest example of nuclear beta decay and is crucial in our understanding of weak processes. The neutron lifetime, when combined with other neutron decay parameters, provides a test of the unitarity of the CKM matrix in the Standard Model; is an important input in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis models; and plays a role in other areas including solar physics and the detection of reactor antineutrinos. Competitive tests of unitarity in the CKM matrix require determination of the neutron lifetime to less than 0.3 s. While the most precise neutron lifetime experiment, using ultracold neutrons in a magnetic trap, has reached an uncertainty of 0.3 s, the current 10 s discrepancy between bottle and beam-based determinations presents a challenge, but also a possibility for new physics. In this talk I will give an overview of neutron lifetime experiments and the current state of the field as well as discuss our efforts to address the beam-bottle discrepancy through systematic studies and improved beam measurements. I will discuss both the ongoing BL2 beam neutron lifetime experiment and the next-generation beam lifetime experiment, BL3, currently undergoing assembly and off-line testing. The goal of BL3 is to achieve 0.3 s uncertainty in the neutron lifetime utilizing the beam method.
  • 8 April 2026
  • 7:00 EDT
 MSUFCU Arts Power Up Artists in Residence in Conversation MSUFCU Arts Power Up artists-in-residence Carl Craig and Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrom come together for a conversation exploring art, technology, and creative practice. Moderated by Sophia Saliby of WKAR, the discussion offers insight into how artists working across disciplines imagine and shape the future. April 8, 2026. 7:00 to 8:00 PM MSU Broad Art Museum (547 East Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI, 48824) Registration: https://50807.blackbaudhosting.com/50807/ARTIST-TALKS-MSUFCU-Arts-Power-Up-Residency https://50807.blackbaudhosting.com/50807/ARTIST-TALKS-MSUFCU-Arts-Power-Up-Resi…

FRIB tours

Discover what happens at a rare isotope facility by joining an FRIB tour. Interested members of the public and students from public, homeschool, private, and parochial schools can discover the inner workings of FRIB with a guided tour.

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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 a love for nuclear science by fostering innovative, cross-disciplinary collaborations that connect with learners of all ages and backgrounds.

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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.

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