Looking at Low-Background Nuclear Astrophysics Measurements using CASPAR

An accelerator laboratory (CASPAR) to be installed at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is being constructed by a collaboration lead by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The study of alpha induced reactions of astrophysical interest in a quasi-background free environment is the goal of the laboratory. Specifically, neutron producing reactions for the s-process will be investigated. This process is responsible for the nucleosynthesis of half of the elements heavier than iron. An outline of CASPAR, its timeline and scientific goals will be presented.