Windows on the universe: nuclear astrophysics at frib

The National Science Foundation Division of Physics awarded Michigan State University a $1.5 million Cooperative Agreement on August 1, 2026, to conduct experimental nuclear astrophysics research investigating nuclear properties that drive astrophysical phenomena such as supernova explosions, colliding neutron stars, and heavy-element synthesis in stars.

The research team will perform experiments at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) and complementary facilities to study short-lived nuclei in extreme astrophysical environments. The project develops artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for data collection and analysis to interpret observed astrophysical events in the era of time-domain multi-messenger astronomy. Work is performed in East Lansing, Michigan, with a period of performance from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2029.

The project supports the training and career development of undergraduate and graduate students and a postdoctoral researcher. Public engagement includes research talks, videos, popular-science articles, local events, and an annual nuclear science summer school for undergraduate students from U.S. institutions, with programming designed to explore career paths in nuclear physics and astrophysics. The award funds the continuation of an established experimental nuclear astrophysics program providing nuclear physics data essential for understanding extreme cosmic environments.

Abstract

This award focuses on the experimental investigation of nuclear properties that drive astrophysical phenomena. The research team focuses on the study of extreme astrophysical environments, such as supernova explosions, colliding STARS, and neutron STARS. In such environments, the participating nuclei are short-lived, and their study requires a radioactive beam facility for their production. The PIS will perform experiments at the facility for rare isotope beams (frib) and other complementary facilities. Through these experiments the PIS will investigate the synthesis of heavy elements in STARS and will explore the inner workings of stellar explosions. Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques will be developed and used in the data collection and analysis processes. The training, mentoring, and career development of the next generation of nuclear scientists is an important element of the project, which supports undergraduate and graduate students, and a postdoctoral researcher. In addition, the PIS actively share their research and educate the public through talks, videos, popular-science articles and local events. As part of the project, an annual nuclear science summer school will be organized, which provides an opportunity for undergraduate students from U.S. Institutions to learn about nuclear physics and astrophysics, and to explore career paths into these areas. In the ERA of time-domain multi-messenger astronomy, where astronomical events are surveyed over long time periods and via multiple observables, rare-isotope science plays a critical role in interpreting the observed astrophysical phenomena. Understanding the nuclear processes driving these astrophysical events is essential for understanding some of the most extreme environments encountered in the cosmos. The project will continue the established experimental nuclear astrophysics program at frib to provide important nuclear physics input for two broad topics: 1) the origin of the heavy elements, and 2) explosive astrophysical sites. The experiments will address nuclear reactions and nuclear structure properties that were identified in sensitivity studies as important ingredients into computer models of dynamic astrophysical events to explain observations. The results will provide input to heavy-element nucleosynthesis via such processes as the rapid and intermediate neutron capture processes, the neutrino process and the neutrino proton process. In addition, the PIS will address explosive fusion reactions in supernovae, and will provide data on electron capture processes inside neutron STARS. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.