Rare Isotope Research

Atoms are the basic building blocks of nature, composing everything from stars and planets to people. At the center of every atom is an atomic nucleus that is 10,000 times smaller than the atom but contains more than 99.9 percent of its mass. All of these nuclei are made of protons and neutrons.

Rare isotopes are those short-lived atomic nuclei that are no longer found on Earth. Rare isotopes are constantly produced in stars and stellar explosions and are important for understanding the cosmos. In addition, the knowledge gained from studying rare isotopes promises advances in areas as diverse as medical sciences, national security, and materials science. Rare isotope research is a vast new frontier in the study of atomic nuclei.

Rare isotopes are made in the laboratory by smashing together two atomic nuclei and filtering out the products. This requires powerful accelerators and large magnetic separators. Premier U.S. research facilities include the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) now at MSU and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)—which will be the world’s most powerful rare isotope beam facility—planned at MSU.

To the future

Some 300 stable and 3,000 unstable rare isotopes are known. These and many more rare isotopes will be produced and made available for research by FRIB. The next generation of scientists will be able to study the properties of these nuclei and use them in applications to address national needs.

By advancing the mission of the Office of Nuclear Physics in the Department of Energy’s Office of Science—to discover, explore, and understand all possible forms of nuclear matter—FRIB will help ensure U.S. leadership in this critical field for decades to come.

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