LBNF

Excavation of three colossal caverns has been completed for the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment in the former Homestake mine in South Dakota, the biggest and deepest gold mine in North America until its closure in 2002.

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.

Scientists and engineers from around the world collaborate with Fermilab to develop state-of-the-art technologies and solve the mysteries of matter, energy, space and time. Here is a look at 10 ways they advanced science and technology this year.

Traveling by rail, sea, interstates and shafts, the first components of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment have arrived at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota.

Laza Rakotondravohitra was the first Malagasy grad student to conduct research in neutrino physics. He and others are working to ensure he will be far from the last.

From UK Research and Innovation, July 26, 2022: UK engineers have started producing what is perhaps the most critical link in a complex and powerful accelerator chain, the neutrino production target for LBNF at Fermilab. Together, STFC engineers and Fermilab have started an international collaboration known as RaDIATE in which the collaboration applies the expertise and facilities of nuclear materials scientists to the challenging environment.

In early October, crews completed the raise-bore drilling of the vertical ventilation shaft at the Lead, South Dakota, LBNF/DUNE project site and unexpectedly uncovered a geological treasure during the process.

Fermilab contractors have successfully commissioned a system that will move 800,000 tons of rock to create space for the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment’s detectors in South Dakota. Excavation crews will transport the rock from a mile underground to the surface using refurbished mining infrastructure and the newly constructed conveyor system.

Scientists in Latin America recently published the first coordinated plan for the region’s research in high-energy physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Fermilab scientist Marcela Carena was part of the group that collected input for the report. Here, she weighs in its significance.

From working at the CIA to designing science facilities at Fermilab, Kate Sienkiewicz enjoys tackling complex problems. Currently, she oversees the team tasked with designing and building conventional facilities at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility near site for the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment — all with the overarching goal of understanding the universe.