The Road to FRIB
FRIB accelerates first beams in three of forty-six superconducting cryomodules
On 11-12 July, 2018, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams achieved a major project milestone by accelerating its first beams in three of forty-six superconducting cryomodules. This demonstrates for the first time that the major systems (front end, liquid helium plant, superconducting cryomodules) which were commissioned individually, work well together and can successfully accelerate beams of atomic particles...
Read more 2018FRIB civil construction complete, achieves beneficial occupancy
Civil construction on the FRIB Project achieved beneficial occupancy on 24 March 2017.
Beneficial occupancy is the stage of construction in which the facility can be used for its intended purpose... Read more 2017
FRIB makes first beam from ARTEMIS ion source and installs first cryomodule into linear accelerator tunnel
The FRIB Project has reached a new milestone: the extraction of the first ion beam from its Advanced Room-TEMperature Ion Source (ARTEMIS). On 12 October, 2016 FRIB staff turned on ARTEMIS for the first time, and the successful testing resulted in the first ion beam produced on 14 October 2016.
Read more 2016First FRIB production cryomodule complete
FRIB-1, the first fully populated cryomodule for the FRIB driver linear accelerator, is complete. This is significant because it means great strides have been made in assembly time: FRIB-1 was completed in two-and-a-half months, compared to the six months it took to complete cryomodules for ReA3 and ReA6, other state-of-the-art accelerators at the laboratory.
Read more 2015FRIB groundbreaking launches civil construction
On March 17, 2014 Michigan State University (MSU) held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) on the MSU campus in East Lansing, Michigan.
Read more 2014FRIB is approved at the CD2/CD-3A level, and construction is anticipated to begin soon.
On August 1, 2013, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science approved Critical Decision-2 (CD-2), Approve Performance Baseline, and Critical Decision-3a (CD-3a), Approve Start of Civil Construction and Long Lead Procurements, for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) construction project, which will be located at Michigan State University.
Read more 2013Appropriations Bill provides first funding for FRIB
The FY2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill includes $4,903.7M for the Office of Science, $535M of this for Nuclcear Physics and $12M of this for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (October 1, 2009).
Read more 2009MSU selected to build FRIB
DOE issues a Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity Announcement for FRIB (May 20, 2008, applications due July 21, 2008) and selects the MSU application following a merit review and evaluation process (December 11, 2008).
Read more 20082007 Long Range Plan strongly endorses FRIB
"Recommendation II: We recommend construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a world-leading facility for the study of nuclear structure, reactions, and astrophysics. Experiments with the new isotopes produced at FRIB will lead to a comprehensive description of nuclei, elucidate the origin of the elements in the cosmos, provide an understanding of matter in the crust of neutron stars, and establish the scientific foundation for innovative applications of nuclear science to society. "
Read more 2007NSAC transmits FRIB task force report and makes construction of FRIB the second highest priority for nuclear science.
2007The Science of the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA): A Brochure from the RIA Users Community
Read more 2006The Rare-Isotope Science Assessment Committee of the National Research Council endorses construction of a facility for rare isotope beams (FRIB) based upon a 200 MeV driver LINAC.
2006DOE cancels RIA and pursue a lower cost option
2006DOE cancels draft of RIA-RFP (request for proposal)
- Low-cost alternatives proposed by MSU and ANL
- DOE and NSF charge Rare Isotope Science Assessment Committee (RISAC) of the Academies to assess science case for rare isotope beam facility
NSAC Report on Comparison of the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) and the Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung (GSI) Future Facility
Read more 20042002 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science
"The Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) is our highest priority for major new construction."
Read more 2002ISOL Task Force Report
"The ISOL Task Force has unanimously concluded that developments in both nuclear science and its supporting technologies make building a world-leading Rare-Isotope Accelerator (RIA) facility a scientific imperative for the United States."
Read more 1999"Nuclear Physics: The Core of Matter, The Fuel of Stars", National Academy Report
"Recommendation II: The committee recommends the construction of a dedicated, high-intensity accelerator facility to produce beams of short-lived nuclei. Such a facility will open up a new frontier in nuclear structure near the limits of nuclear binding and will strengthen our understanding of nuclear properties relevant to explosive nucleosynthesis and other aspects of the physics governing the cosmos."
Read more 1999ISOL Task Force Report to NSAC: Opportunity: Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) Facility
19971996 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science
"We strongly recommend development of a cost-effective plan for a next-generation ISOL-type facility and its construction..."
Read more 1996Argonne Yellow Book: ANL-ATLAS Exotic Beam Facility
1995TUNL Town Meeting (January 19-21, 1995)
Town meeting report specifically endorses concept for the IsoSpin Laboratory.
1995The IsoSpin Laboratory (ISL) Steering Committee founded
The ISL committee drafted language for the 1989 Long Range Plan: "Whole new vistas would be opened by a radioactive nuclear beam (RNB) accelerator", sets RNB facility as one of highest priorities for new construction in LRP.
Read more 1989