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UNISOR team marks 50th anniversary of first experiment

Members of the team that conducted research as part of UNISOR (University Isotope Separator at Oak Ridge

Members of the team that conducted research as part of UNISOR (University Isotope Separator at Oak Ridge) and UNIRIB (University Isotope Radioactive Ion Beam) gathered this week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first experiment brought online through the UNISOR facility.

UNISOR was a division of ORAU established as a user group in 1971 and supported by 10 member universities and the U.S. Department of Energy. The UNISOR facility, located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, exposing radioactive isotopes to temperatures in excess of 3000 degrees Celsius. By measuring the decay processes of these radioactive isotopes, physicists got information used to determine the validity of nuclear models, which sometimes lead to the discovery of new structural effects. UNIRIB was brought online in 1981. UNISOR and UNIRIB were ended in June 2015.

During the 50th anniversary gathering, 21 members celebrated the leadership of Joseph Hamilton, Ph.D., who founded UNISOR; and shared memories of their work together. 

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