NUSTAR installs first major component at FAIR: GLAD vacuum chamber successfully placed in High-Energy Cave
28.05.2026 |
At the FAIR construction site, the NUSTAR collaboration has reached an important milestone: The GLAD vacuum chamber – the first major component of the NUSTAR experimental setup – was successfully transported to the NUSTAR High-Energy Cave.
The approximately 15-ton chamber was transported from the GSI campus to the FAIR site and carefully positioned using a crane in combination with air cushion transport technology. The precise transportation process marks a key step in preparing the experimental infrastructure for future research at FAIR.
The GLAD vacuum chamber is a central element of the R3B (Reactions with Relativistic Radioactive Beams) experiment. The system has already been successfully used during FAIR Phase-0 at GSI and will play a crucial role in upcoming experiments at the FAIR facility.
The installation took place following a successful Installation Readiness Review (IRR) and the thorough documentation required for the installation work.
Extensive preparation preceded the transport and installation: An initial trial was conducted at the GSI campus in January 2026, followed by a refined and successfully tested transport concept in February 2026. These preparatory steps ensured the safe and efficient execution of the operation.
With the transportation of the GLAD vacuum chamber, NUSTAR takes a significant step toward the realization of its experimental program at FAIR. Transport and installation work of further components will continue leading up to in-beam commissioning and full experiments at FAIR. (LW)
