Scientists and engineers at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) have achieved a remarkable milestone by accelerating a high-power beam of uranium ions and delivering a record 10.4 kilowatts of continuous beam power to a target. This breakthrough paves the way for a new era of nuclear physics research, as uranium is a crucial element for studying rare isotopes. The discovery of three previously unobserved isotopes, gallium-88, arsenic-93, and selenium-96, highlights the significance of this achievement.
Pushing the Boundaries of Uranium Acceleration
Uranium is the most difficult element to accelerate, but its importance in scientific research is undeniable. More than half of the highest-priority scientific programs with rare isotope beams identified by the National Academy of Sciences and the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee require a uranium primary beam.
Researchers at FRIB have overcome this challenge by developing new techniques to simultaneously accelerate three charge states of uranium after stripping with a liquid-lithium film. This innovative approach has led to the production of the highest-power accelerated continuous wave uranium beam ever seen, a true milestone in the field of nuclear physics.
Unlocking the Secrets of Rare Isotopes
The high-power uranium beam has enabled FRIB scientists to produce and identify three new isotopes: gallium-88, arsenic-93, and selenium-96. These previously unobserved isotopes were separated and identified using the Advanced Rare Isotope Separator at FRIB.
The ability to create and study these rare isotopes is crucial for understanding the nuclear landscape and exploring uncharted regions of the periodic table. This achievement extends the scientific reach and opens new avenues for groundbreaking discoveries in the field of nuclear physics.
Technological Advancements Behind the Breakthrough
The successful operation of FRIB, including the integration of cutting-edge technologies, was essential to this remarkable achievement. The facility’s new superconducting linear accelerator, composed of 324 resonators in 46 cryomodules, played a crucial role in delivering the record-breaking uranium beam power.
Additional innovations, such as the newly developed liquid-lithium stripper and the unique heavy-ion Radio-Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ), contributed to the overall success of the project. These technological advancements have laid the foundation for providing the heaviest ion beams and paving the way for future discoveries in the realm of nuclear physics.
