High-intensity heavy-ion accelerators have unique challenges in their beam intercepting devices that originate from the extremely high energy loss per distance traveled by heavy ions traversing their materials. These challenges often prohibit such accelerators from achieving higher beam power and thus determine the accelerator performance. In this paper, the challenges of operation of FRIB beam intercepting devices, as well as their statuses, and their future enhancements are discussed.

The FRIB accelerator, constructed and commissioned in 2022, serves as a leading facility for producing rare isotope beams and exploring elements beyond the limits of stability. These beams are produced by reactions between stable primary beams and a graphite production target. Meanwhile, approximately 20–40% of the primary beam power is deposited in the target, necessitating efficient heat dissipation. Currently, FRIB operates at a primary beam power of 15 kW. To enhance thermal dissipation efficiency, a single-slice rotating graphite target with a diameter of approximately 30 cm is employed. This paper presents an overview of the current status of the production target system and ongoing R&D efforts to enhance its performance and durability under high-power beam conditions.