Motivation: In years to come, substantial progress in low-energy nuclear physics will have a broad impact on society, ranging from our understanding of the origin of the elements to the enhancement of National Security. An important element in this task will be to extend the study of nuclei into new domains of isospin. This will require new radioactive ion beam facilities, together with advanced multi-detector arrays and mass spectrometers.

Based on the outstanding scientific opportunities that would be enabled by an advanced radioactive ion beam facility, the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) has been endorsed in the 2002 Nuclear Physics Long Range Plan as the highest priority for major new construction in nuclear physics for the United States. The RIA concept brings together a unique combination of technologies to produce high-quality beams of short-lived nuclei of all chemical elements at intensities far exceeding what is currently available.

Purpose: This one-week school is the second of a series of summer programs aimed at educating young researchers of the challenges of radioactive ion beam physics. Through these annual schools the research community will be able to exploit fully the opportunities created by RIA. The RIA summer school is jointly organized by the 88-Inch Cyclotron, ATLAS, HRIBF, and NSCL, and will be an annual event, rotating among these laboratories.

Who should apply and attend: Senior undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers within 2 years of their degrees.