Soudan, Minnesota–On Tuesday, July 20, 1999, scientists and officials of the U.S. Department of Energy, the State of Minnesota, DOE’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Minnesota will break ground in a former iron mine, now a Minnesota state park. They will inaugurate construction of an underground cavern to house a new detector to study the subatomic particles called neutrinos.
Physicists at Fermilab, near Chicago, will direct a beam of neutrinos from the Fermilab particle accelerator to the Soudan Mine, a distance of 450 miles. Beginning in 2003, scientists of MINOS (Main Injector Neutrinos Oscillation Study) will use the 10,000-ton steel detector to determine whether neutrinos possess mass. The construction and operation of the project will have a significant positive impact on the economy of the Soudan-Tower area of northeastern Minnesota.
After a 1:00 p.m. luncheon above ground, the “undergroundbreaking” will take place in the mine, with officials and scientists wielding pick-axes and making brief remarks. Besides local and U.S. officials, the event’s organizers have invited Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. Congressman James Oberstar will make a videotaped statement.
To help us coordinate press access for this event, we ask that you call (630-840-3351) or email (topquark@fnal.gov) the Fermilab Office of Public Affairs for credentials. Complete details of the day’s activities and information about travel and accommodations are available from Judy Treend in the Fermilab Office of Public Affairs (630-840-3351), Dr. Earl Peterson at the University of Minnesota (612-624-0319) or Jim Beaty at the Soudan Laboratory (218-753-6611).
Fermilab is a Department of Energy National Laboratory dedicated to frontier research in the field of particle physics. More than 90 percent of the funding for federally sponsored research in particle physics is provided by DOE. Fermilab is operated by Universities Research Association, Inc. under contract with DOE.
For more information, call Fermilab’s Public Affairs Office at (630) 840-3351.
Recommended reading
Ten ways Fermilab advanced science and technology in 2024
In 2024, Fermilab made significant scientific progress, including advancing preparations for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment and conducting groundbreaking quantum research. The laboratory also continued its strong international collaborations — including involvement with the CMS experiment at CERN — and made strides in developing emerging technologies with wide applications beyond physics.
New NOvA results add to mystery of neutrinos
The international collaboration presented their first results with new data in four years, featuring a new low-energy sample of electron neutrinos and a dataset doubled in size.
New media artist and educator Agnes Chavez named 2024 guest artist
New Mexico-based artist Agnes Chavez will work with scientists at Fermilab to explore new ways to use data visualization, light, sound and space to communicate the importance and relevance of science, in particular research on particles called neutrinos.