Last month on our trip to the Midwest, we came across the
Sanford Underground Research Facility http://www.sanfordlab.org/in
Lead, SD. There was a visitor’s center and we were able to take a tour. Since
we had never heard of this place before, I thought it would be a fun thing to
share with others.
This facility is located at the former Homestake Gold Mine.
It was supported through state funds until 2015 and now is funded by the
Department of Energy. It cover 188 acres on the surface but goes so far
underground that it covers 370 miles underground.
The main level for science research is at the 4850 level. Sanford
lab maintains about 12 miles of area for science activities.
According to the website:
“The Yates Shaft, which was raised in 1939 and descends 5,000
feet, is the primary access point for scientists and others who work
underground at Sanford Lab. The hoists convey equipment and materials used
to build and maintain experiments, enhance infrastructure and excavate caverns.”
and
“In 2014, the Department of Energy's High Energy Physics committee
prioritized physics experiments, giving neutrino and dark matter projects
high-priority. Sanford Lab houses two experiments named in the P-5 report:
LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) and LBNF/DUNE.
LZ, a second-generation dark matter experiment, will continue the
search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), while LBNF/DUNE, the
largest mega-science project ever on U.S. soil, will study the properties of
neutrinos.”
On our tour, we were unable to go underground but we learned
about the history of the Homestake Mine and we were able to see the elevator
that takes the scientists down below the earth.
It was a fascinating tour and if you ever get to go on it,
you will find it very interesting.
Have you ever been to this location? If so, please share
your thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment