SECAR: A recoil separator for nuclear astrophysics

¹ Department of Physics, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859, USA
² Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
³ Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
⁴ Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
⁵ Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
⁶ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
⁷ Department of Physics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA
⁸ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
⁹ The Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics -Center for the Evolution of the Elements, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
¹⁰ The Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics -Center for the Evolution of the Elements, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA

^* e-mail: tsint1p@cmich.edu

Published online: 24 February 2022

Abstract

Proton-and alpha-capture reactions on unstable proton-rich nuclei power astrophysical explosions like novae and X-ray bursts. Direct measurements of these reactions are crucial for understanding the mechanisms behind these explosions and the nucleosynthesis at such sites. The recoil mass separator, SECAR (SEparator for CApture Reactions) at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), has been designed with the required sensitivity to study (p,γ) and (α,γ) reactions, directly at astrophysical energies in inverse kinematics, with radioactive beams of masses up to about A = 65. The complete SECAR system, including two Wien Filters for high mass resolution, has been installed at Michigan State University and is currently being commissioned. The present article introduces the SECAR concept, its scientific goals, and provides an update of the current status of the project.