The committee was asked to address the role of a U.S. FRIB “in the context of international efforts in this area.”

Other countries throughout the world are aggressively pursuing rare-isotope science, often as their highest priority in nuclear science, attesting to the significance accorded internationally to this exciting area of research. The remarkable technical innovations developed for RIA appear to be directly applicable to the FRIB concept and could enable the United States to maintain its position among the leaders in this highly competitive field.

The committee concludes that a U.S. facility for rare-isotope beams along the lines presented to the committee would be complementary to existing and planned international efforts. A FRIB would offer unique technical capabilities to the American region. As a partner among equals, a U.S. rare-isotope facility constructed in the next decade could be well matched to compete with the new initiatives in Asia and Europe and would support world-leading scientific thrusts within the United States. Additionally, the committee heard testimony that global “demand” for radioactive beams exceeds projected “supply.”

The committee concludes that the science addressed by a rare-isotope facility, most likely based on a heavy-ion driver using a linear accelerator, should be a high priority for the United States. The facility for rare-isotope beams envisaged for the United States would provide capabilities, unmatched elsewhere, that will directly address the key science of exotic nuclei.