SNOLAB

SNOLAB is a Canadian underground physics laboratory under construction at a depth of 2 km in Sudbury, Ontario in Vale Inco's Creighton nickel mine. It currently hosts three experiments:

* The PICASSO dark matter search,
* The POLARIS underground project at SNOLAB (PUPS) , observing seismic signals at depth in very hard rock, and
* The DEAP dark matter search.

The original Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) experiment has ended, and the facilities are being converted for the SNO+ follow-on.

A large deep cavity was originally constructed for the SNO experiment, but other experimental groups were interested in the very deep location. In 2002 funding was approved by the Canada Foundation for Innovation to expand the SNO facilities into a general-purpose laboratory, [cite press release |title=Canada selects 9 projects to lead in international research |url=http://www.innovation.ca/media/index.cfm?websiteid=227 |publisher=Canada Foundation for Innovation |date=2002-06-20 |accessdate=2007-09-21] and more funding was received in 2007 [cite press release |title=Province Supports Expansion of World's Deepest Lab Administered by Carleton University |url=http://www.carleton.ca/duc/newsroom/archive/Aug21.html |publisher=Carleton University |date=2007-08-21 |accessdate=2007-09-21] and 2008. [cite press release |title=New Funding will Support Underground Lab Operations as SNOLAB nears Completion |url=http://www.snolab.ca/files/news/docs/SnolabNewsRelease-2008-01-22.pdf |publisher=SNOLAB |date=2008-01-18 |accessdate=2008-02-26]

As of January 2008, phase 1 (the first expansion of the original SNO) excavation has been completed, and the new underground lab space is being outfitted. Phase 2 excavation is almost complete and the walls are being concreted. [cite web |url=http://www.snolab.ca/files/updates/update_current/ |title=SNOLAB Update |date=18 January 2008 |accessdate=2008-02-26]

While some experiments are using the existing SNO space, phase 1 occupancy is expected in 2Q 2008. [ [http://snolab2007.snolab.ca/talks/snolab_status_duncan_rev03.pdf SNOLAB Status and Schedule 22–12 August 2007] ]

SNOLAB is the world's deepest underground lab facility; the deeper Kolar Gold Fields experiments ended with the closing of the mine in 1992 [cite journal |title=Status of India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)|author=Naba K. Mondal |journal=Proc Indian Natn Sci Acad |volume=70 |issue=1 |date=January 2004 |pages=71–77 |url=http://www.imsc.res.in/~ino/OpenReports/Insa/naba.pdf |accessdate=2007-08-28] , and the planned DUSEL laboratory is not expected to begin construction before 2012. [Citation |url=http://sanfordlaboratoryathomestake.org/?p=24 |title=Welcome to deep science |publisher=South Dakota Science and Technology Authority |accessdate=2008-04-13. "DUSEL construction, which likely could not begin until fiscal 2012, will need the final approval of the NSF, the National Science Board, Congress and the White House."]

Although accessed though a dirty commercial mine, the laboratory proper is maintained as a class-2000 cleanroom, with very low levels of dust and background radiation. The 6800 ft (2070 m) overburden of rock provides 6010 metres of water equivalent (MWE) shielding from cosmic rays, providing a low-background environment for experiments requiring high sensitivities and extremely low counting rates.In the field of dark matter search the DEAP and CDMS projects want to move their experiments to SNOLAB along with PICASSO. In the field of neutrino physics the SNO+ collaboration is re-using the existing SNO infrastructure. The proposed EXO experiment for neutrinoless double beta decay is also a candidate to be housed in Snolab.

References

External links

* [http://www.snolab.ca SNOLAB website]
* [http://snolab2006.snolab.ca/agenda2006.html SNOLAB 2006 Workshop agenda and presentations]
* [http://snolab2007.snolab.ca/snolab2007-programme.html SNOLAB 2007 presentations]
* cite episode
title=Experiment Cave
episodelink=
url=http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/story/49-experiment_cave.html
series=WIRED Science
serieslink=WIRED Science
network=PBS
airdate=2007-10-24
number=104
transcripturl=