Nearly seven years ago, crews began excavating a former gold mine near Lead, South Dakota, to create three underground caverns capable of holding 17,500 tons of liquid argon each. The project, known as DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment), is spearheaded by scientists at the US Department of Energy's Fermilab and is estimated to cost at least $3 billion.
Neutrinos, often referred to as 'ghost particles,' are elusive subatomic particles that pass through matter without interacting. Despite their elusiveness, scientists are keen to study neutrinos as they could hold the key to understanding the universe's mysteries, from the aftermath of the Big Bang to the formation of black holes.
The DUNE experiment involves firing a beam of neutrinos from particle accelerators at Fermilab in Illinois to detectors located 800 miles away at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota. The underground location shields the detectors from cosmic rays that could interfere with data collection.
One of the primary goals of DUNE is to investigate why the universe is predominantly made up of matter rather than antimatter. Additionally, the project aims to study supernova physics and potentially observe proton decay, which could have profound implications for unifying the fundamental forces of nature.
Despite facing some budget and timeline setbacks, DUNE has made significant progress in fostering international collaboration, with approximately 1,400 individuals from 36 countries contributing to the project. The first detector is expected to be operational by the end of 2028, with full completion slated for 2031.
While other neutrino projects exist globally, DUNE stands out for its innovative use of liquid argon and the extensive distance between its detectors. The project's ambitious goals and collaborative nature underscore its status as a pioneering endeavor in the field of particle physics.
