A Tale of Two Neutrino Labs
Hundreds of miles apart and hundreds of feet below the Earth’s surface, two laboratories are pushing basic scientific research to the outer boundaries of the known universe.
A new experiment will send tiny particles called neutrinos 800 miles through the Earth’s crust from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois (a.k.a. Fermilab, within the 14th Congressional District I represent) to the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab) in Lead, South Dakota. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) may revolutionize our understanding of the matter and energy that compose our mysterious universe as scientists at both labs — and around the world — study these sub-atomic particles as they travel through the Earth and through space.
My family and I recently had the privilege of attending the grand opening of the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center. As a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, and co-founder of the House Science and National Laboratories Caucus, I was thrilled to help celebrate this key partner of Fermilab.
As we arrived on the campus we were greeted with abundant hospitality from Gov. Dennis Daugaard and the Sanford Lab team. While the expansive infrastructure and ongoing experiments were dually impressive, still being a kid at heart, I can’t get over underground trains!
With hard hats and steel-toed boots on, we were able to take a tour of the state-of-the-art science facilities now housed in the former gold mine. We heard about the exciting plans for DUNE, which would trap neutrinos in a massive, super-cooled apparatus nearly a mile underground. With almost 800 scientists already working together on DUNE, support is increasing for this experiment that could revolutionize particle physics and teach us more about the world we live in. I could feel the excitement in the atmosphere as we begin this journey into greater scientific discovery.
Months prior I had the opportunity to tour Fermilab’s side of the neutrino experiment. Fermilab has already made a name for itself with the Tevatron, an underground particle collider that led to the discovery of the top quark, among other breakthroughs.
Currently, scientists use Fermilab’s powerful Main Injector accelerator to produce vast quantities of neutrinos, used by scientists in experiments at Fermilab and at two sites in northern Minnesota. The Fermilab team is constantly ramping up the accelerator’s power, and just announced a new record 521-kilowatt beam power for neutrinos on July 8, 2015.
Trapping and measuring elusive neutrinos is incredibly difficult, and the new DUNE experiment will use next-generation liquid-argon technology to measure those traveling into a cavern 4,850 feet below South Dakota’s surface. The United States is taking on a leadership role on the world stage for this technology.
DUNE will also measure neutrinos on the Fermilab site. As part of an international collaboration, scientists from India are leading the design efforts for a “near detector” at Fermilab to take measurements before neutrinos hit the “far detector” in South Dakota (see above graphic).
Through experiments studying the properties of these tiny particles, scientists have the potential to revolutionize physics as we know it. DUNE may lead to a new understanding about the role neutrinos play in the makeup of our universe. It will allow us to peer into the cosmos and watch a black hole form in real time. It will allow us to make new discoveries about matter, antimatter, dark matter, dark energy, and the creation of our universe.
As much as we have learned throughout the history of science, matter as we know it is only five percent of the universe. The rest? Yet-to-be discovered.
With the creation of DUNE, together the two labs have created opportunities for innovation, scientific advancement and global cooperation. I was able to meet a handful of the many scientists, representing 150 institutes and spanning 26 countries, who are teaming up on these projects.
Last month, I was thrilled to see Governor Daugaard, when he made his way to Illinois for a tour of Fermilab to see what is happening on our end.
This collaboration, between states, agencies, non-profits and foreign nations, is the model scientific research should take moving forward.
The tale of two neutrino labs in two states shows we are in “the best of times.”
Encouraging private sector participation and investment in the promotion of research will continue to play a vital role in advancing particle physics innovations. Recognizing and encouraging valuable research and discoveries will help guarantee America remains a global leader in the scientific industry.
DUNE ensures we are ready to tackle new territory in particle physics.
