Fermilab Begins Lowering 10 Million Pounds of Steel for DUNE

Fermilab has begun lowering 10 million pounds of steel a mile underground in South Dakota, initiating a crucial phase for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and its quest to understand the universe’s most elusive particle. The event, held at the Sanford Underground Research Facility, included a symbolic gesture; attendees from the Department of Energy and members of Congress signed the steel beams that will house DUNE’s massive detectors. This undertaking marks the first time CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, has invested in infrastructure for an experiment outside of Europe, providing both personnel and the steel. “Today represents the start of a pivotal phase for DUNE, the development of the far detector structures in South Dakota,” said Fermilab Director Norbert Holtkamp. DUNE will ultimately send a neutrino beam 800 miles from Illinois to this underground location, probing fundamental questions about matter, the universe, and its asymmetries.

DUNE’s 10 Million Pound Steel Beam Installation Begins at SURF

This marks a critical transition from construction to the installation of the experiment’s massive detectors, made possible by an international collaboration. The event, attended by Department of Energy officials, members of Congress, and leadership from Fermilab, SURF, and CERN, was more than a logistical milestone; attendees signed the beams before they were lowered, connecting the scientific endeavor with community involvement.

Holtkamp further noted, “We at Fermilab are grateful for the support from DOE and the close collaboration of our science partners at SURF, CERN and the many international institutions that are contributing to DUNE.” This contribution from CERN is significant, demonstrating a strong scientific partnership between the two organizations. CERN Director General Mark Thomson said, “This milestone for DUNE is a testament to the strong scientific partnership between CERN and the United States.” He continued, “CERN is playing a pivotal role in the development of its prototype detectors and providing the two enormous cryostats for the experiment itself, while the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories are playing a critical role for CERN with superconducting accelerator magnets for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider.” The steel will form the support structure for detector modules, each roughly the size of a five-story building and designed to house 17,000 tons of liquid argon cooled to approximately minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit, enabling the precision needed to capture neutrino interactions.

While Fermilab leads this US-based project, the international scope extends to Europe, with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) providing crucial materials and expertise. This demonstration of support underscores the project’s scale and collaborative spirit. CERN’s involvement extends beyond material contributions; the organization is also leveraging its experience in detector prototyping.

Mile Neutrino Beam to Explore Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry

The movement of the first steel beams a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota signifies more than construction progress; it demonstrates a commitment to unraveling some of the universe’s deepest mysteries. This event highlights the scale of the undertaking, with approximately 10 million pounds of steel being lowered to create the experiment’s foundations. The materials are scheduled for underground preparation this summer, accelerating the transition from construction to detector installation. This collaboration extends beyond materials, as CERN is also actively developing prototype detectors vital to the experiment’s success. As America’s particle physics laboratory, the experiment is the largest scientific project currently supported by the DOE Office of Science and promises to drive advancements in fields ranging from national security to medical imaging.

This logistical undertaking, involving the careful lowering of steel components, is more than an engineering feat; it symbolizes a new phase in the ambitious project, shifting focus from construction to the intricate installation of detector elements. As we advance this historic effort, our focus remains on safety, quality and schedule, in that order, to ensure we successfully deliver on behalf of the U.S.