（华盛顿报道）美国能源部（DOE）今天（2008年12月11日，星期四）宣布启动建设新一代放射性同位素束流装置（FRIB），用于推进对放射性同位素和宇宙演变的研究工作。同时宣布，由位于密歇根州东兰辛市的密歇根州立大学(MSU)负责该装置的设计和建造工作。初步估计，这种最先进的放射性同位素束流装置将耗资约5.5亿美元，并需要约10年时间来完成设计和建造。新装置建成后，将为来自全世界的约1000所大学或科研机构的科研人员、博士后和研究生提供研究机会。
“能源部投资在MSU建设的放射性同位素装置，将极大地扩展我们对核天体物理和核结构的认识理解。”核物理科学办公室主任助理尤金•亨利(Eugene
Henry)说，“新一代装置将使科学家们可以进一步研究为星体和恒星演变提供能量的核反应，研究原子核结构以及核子之间的相互作用，检验现有的关于核物质基本性质的理论，对未来核技术和核医学的发展至关重要。”
未来在FRIB上进行的高束流强度的短寿命稀有（也即自然界不存在的）放射性同位素束流实验，将推动解决核技术在材料科学、医学和核武器储备管理等领域应用的关键问题。
FRIB设计方案在美国能源部内部和其它独立机构（如美国科学院国家研究理事会National Research Council of the
National Academy of
Sciences）经过了多次研究论证和评估。这些研究论证和《美国能源部、国家科学基金会(NSF)核科学咨询委员会(NSAC)2007年长期发展规划报告》一致认为，新一代放射性同位素束流装置是美国核科学研究整体布局的重要组成部分，对现有装置进行补充，具有世界上其他装置所无可比拟的竞争力。因此，能源部今天宣布的这项决定，是继1996年《NSAC长期发展规划》第一次建议将建造下一代核结构和核天体物理研究装置作为优先事项考虑以来，该装置项目研究、分析和建议的最大进展。
按照2008年5月20日发布的《资金辅助公告》(Funding Opportunity Announcement,FOA)的规定，新一代装置项目计划书由来自全世界范围内大学、国家实验室和联合机构的权威专家们组成的审查团进行价值审查。整个考核过程包括根据FOA规定的价值审查标准进行的严格评估，申请人的陈述报告，和审查团的实地考察。根据FOA给出的价值审查标准和项目保险因子，审查团认为密歇根州立大学提出的计划书最优。该计划书制定了详细的项目预算，具备合理性和可行性，充分表明MSU可以在FOA规定的预算范围内完成新一代装置的建造。同时，MSU为设备的建造提供了直接经费支持。
目前，密歇根州立大学拥有由美国国家科学基金会NSF提供支持，由 C.Konrad Gelbke教授领导的超导回旋加速器国家实验室。Gelbke教授将带领MSU科研小组在密歇根州立大学校园内建立FRIB。在建设期间，原来的超导回旋加速器国家实验室将继续运行服务，努力推进寻找新的科学发现。
该项决议的达成得益于密歇根州立大学与国家环保局的谈判顺利完成。双方根据国家环境保护法就选址问题达成一致并签订合作协议。项目资金将按年度由国会审核和拨款。
更多关于FRIB的信息，请访问网站：http://www.sc.doe.gov/np/program/FRIB.html.
（中文翻译：北京大学核物理与核技术国家重点实验室 曹中鑫）
原文：NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bethany Shively, (202) 586-4940
Thursday, December 11, 2008
U.S. Department of Energy Selects Michigan State University
To Design and Establish Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that
Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, MI has been selected to design
and establish the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a cutting-edge
research facility to advance understanding of rare nuclear isotopes and the
evolution of the cosmos. The new facility-expected to take about a decade to
design and build and to cost an estimated $550 million-will provide research
opportunities for an international community of approximately 1000 university
and laboratory scientists, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students.
"The Department of Energy's new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan
State University promises to vastly expand our understanding of nuclear
astrophysics and nuclear structure," said Acting Associate Director of the
Office of Science for Nuclear Physics Eugene Henry. "This capability will allow
physicists to study the nuclear reactions that power stars and stellar
explosions, explore the structure of the nuclei of atoms and the forces that
bind them together, test current theories about the fundamental nature of
matter, and play a role in developing new nuclear medicines and techniques."
The research conducted at FRIB will involve experimentation with intense
beams of rare isotopes-short-lived nuclei not normally found on earth-and is
expected to advance critical applications in the areas of materials science,
medicine, and stockpile stewardship.
The FRIB concept has undergone numerous studies and assessments within DOE
and by independent parties such as the National Research Council of the National
Academy of Sciences. These studies-in addition to the joint DOE/National Science
Foundation (NSF) Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) 2007 Long Range
Plan-concluded that such a facility is a vital part of the U.S. nuclear science
portfolio, complements existing and planned international efforts, and will
provide capabilities unmatched elsewhere. Thus, the selection announced today is
the culmination of studies, analyses, and recommendations conducted since the
1996 NSAC Long Range Plan first recommended the development of a next generation
nuclear structure and astrophysics facility as a high priority.
The proposals received in response to the May 20, 2008, Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) were subject to a merit review process conducted by a panel
of world-renowned experts from universities, national laboratories and federal
agencies. The appraisal included rigorous evaluation of the proposals based on
the merit review criteria described in the FOA, presentations by the applicants,
and visits by the merit review panel to each applicant's site. MSU's application
was judged to be superior based on the merit review criteria and the program
policy factor contained in the FOA, including provision of a proposed budget
that is reasonable and realistic, giving substantial confidence that MSU can
establish the FRIB within the cost limitations of the FOA.MSU also offered a
direct cost share to the project.
MSU currently hosts the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL)
led by Professor C. Konrad Gelbke and supported by NSF. Dr.Gelbke will lead the
MSU team to establish FRIB on the MSU campus. The NSCL can continue operations
during construction, which will allow compelling scientific opportunities to be
pursued.
The selection is subject to the successful negotiation of a Cooperative
Agreement with MSU and a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the
proposed site. Funding is subject to annual appropriations by Congress. For more
information on FRIB, visit:
http://www.sc.doe.gov/np/program/FRIB.html.
