MRI: Track 3: Acquisition of Helium Recovery Equipment to Enable New Quantum and Physical Science Research and Training at the University of Notre Dame

Non-technical Description: This project involves the acquisition of a modern helium recovery system to enable new quantum and physical science research at the University of Notre Dame. Modern research in physics and chemistry increasingly relies on helium, a scarce element required to reach the extremely low temperatures needed for many advanced scientific instruments. At the University of Notre Dame, a growing number of experiments in condensed matter physics, quantum science, nuclear astrophysics, chemistry, and biochemistry depend on liquid helium or helium gas. However, global helium shortages and rising costs threaten the sustainability of these research activities when helium is not recycled. The modern helium recovery system in this project will capture, purify, and reuse helium that would otherwise be lost. The project will establish a reliable and sustainable helium supply for the local research community and for external users of scientific facilities on the campus. By conserving helium and reducing operational costs, the project will support pioneering research while maximizing the effectiveness of federal investments. The system will also enhance education, workforce training, and outreach by enabling hands-on research opportunities and demonstrations involving low-temperatures. Technical Description: This project will acquire a modern helium recovery system for centralized helium recycling at the University of Notre Dame to enable new quantum and physical science research. The system will collect helium boil-off gas from distributed cryogenic instruments, purify and compress the recovered gas for re-liquefaction and reuse. The system will serve multiple individual research groups in the physics and chemistry departments and two core facilities including the Nuclear Science Laboratory and Magnetic Resonance Research Center on the campus. The recovery system will enable multiple research projects including the synthesis and characterization of superconducting, topological, magnetic, and low dimensional quantum materials and heterostructures, development of new scanning probe microscopy techniques, exploration of nucleosynthesis and physics beyond the standard model, and nuclear magnetic resonance studies of chemical materials and functional dynamics of molecules. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2509966 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Xiaolong Liu | Institution: University of Notre Dame, NOTRE DAME, IN | Award Amount: $335,345 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2509966 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2509966.html