Nuclear physics started at this facility in 1970. Since 1986 one of the accelerators (MP-7) serves as the heavy ion injector for the Brookhaven synchrotrons (AGS Booster, AGS, and eventually for RHIC - the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider). The synchrotrons are host to a number of nuclear physics and heavy ion experiments at relativistic energies.
The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory studies the effects of relativistic heavy ions on cells and animals. This radiobiology research program is related to the investigation of space radiation on humans and is particularly important for the planning of future long-term deep space flights.
Alternating Gradient Synchrotron
NASA Space Radiation Laboratory
Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider