An epic scientific journey is taking shape beneath a mile of solid rock. This is the DUNE project, an acronym that stands for “Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment” (here you find all the details). A cutting-edge international collaboration that has as its objective a monumental undertaking: tracing the behavior of neutrinos sent through the earth's crust.
This one-of-a-kind experiment, which sees the creation of the largest underground cryogenic system in the world, is set to shed new light on the darkest mysteries of the universe.
Engineering and science, together
The excavation of the ducts, recently completed, marks a fundamental step in the creation of DUNE. This painstaking work, carried out more than 1 kilometers (just under a mile) below the surface, saw the removal of almost a million tonnes of rock.
The area now liberated is equivalent to approximately eight football fields, a remarkable feat which demonstrates the rigor and dedication of the teams involved. All to prepare for a truly special rendezvous: the one with neutrinos.
Neutrinos: messengers of the universe
Neutrinos, often described as 'ghosts' of the subatomic world, are known for their ability to pass through matter almost undisturbed. These elusive particles could be the key to solving some of physics' biggest puzzles, such as the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe.
At the center of the entire DUNE project are the neutrino detectors, which will be filled with 17.500 tons of liquid argon each. When neutrinos interact with argon, they generate flashes of light and electrical signals, which researchers will analyze to study neutrino transformations. Argon, normally a gas, becomes liquid at -300 ºF (-186 ºC), making these observations possible.
The future of DUNE
With construction of the supporting infrastructure scheduled for 2024, the first scientific data could be collected by 2028.
If all goes as we hope, neutrinos could provide fundamental clues to the predominance of matter overantimatter in the universe, and offer answers to questions that have challenged theoretical physicists for decades.
In conclusion, the DUNE project represents one of the most ambitious and promising initiatives in the field of particle physics. Through technological innovation and international collaboration, it aims to answer some of the deepest questions about the nature of our universe.
