DUNE

The recent report published by the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel highlights the important role that Sanford Underground Research Facility plays in the advancement of U.S. particles physics and its support of the DUNE project. The P5 report recommends continued support for DUNE and funding for expansion of research space at SURF that will enable the U.S. to be an international host for neutrino and dark matter experiments.

CBS News Chicago spoke with a current P5 member who is a professor at the University of Chicago about the 2023 report for federal funding agencies on what should be constructed to advance particle physics research over the next 10 years. Recommendations include a powerful new particle accelerator at Fermilab, a telescope to observe the oldest light in the universe, and research to learn more about mysteries such as dark matter.

Construction work at Fermilab near Kirk and Giese Roads

Fermilab representatives provided an update about the upcoming LBNF site preparation work to members of the Batavia City Council on Nov.6. Starting this month, crews will prepare an area on the Fermilab site close to Kirk and Giese roads for the construction of the new facility for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

Fermi Research Alliance awarded Prof. Yasar Onel, from the University of Iowa, a grant to design a helium gas regulation system for neutrinos at the Main Injector beam monitors at Fermilab. The grant also allows for work on a gas regulation design study, prototype and consultation on a gas regulator system for the DUNE NuMI beam monitors.

Catching ghost particles

Although neutrinos are the most common matter particle in the universe they are also known as ghost particles because they move through our bodies every second without ever interacting with us. Neutrinos won’t be scaring anyone on Halloween but they will be studied by scientists in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment led by Fermilab.

From Unicamp (upon opening the link, right click to translate to English): Last week, directors and scientists from Unicamp (the University of Campinas) and other research institutions visited Fermilab as part of the critical assessment by DOE on the progress of the international collaboration in building the large underground neutrino detector at LBNF. The University is responsible for the development and subsequent production of two sets of central equipment that will make up the laboratory to be installed in South Dakota 1,500 meters underground. One of the sets will be used to detect photons and the other to purify liquid argon.