U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited Fermilab to observe research, including the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility-Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF-DUNE) project which utilises neutrinos to investigate fundamental physics. During the visit, Secretary Wright signed a cryomodule for the Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II), designed to generate a neutrino stream for LBNF-DUNE and other experiments, and toured the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, one of five national quantum research centres. The visit formed part of a year-long initiative to tour all 17 U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories.
Neutrino Research and the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility
The Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility-Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF-DUNE) project will utilise neutrinos to investigate the Standard Model of particle physics and address the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe. This experiment will employ detectors in Illinois and 800 miles away in Lead, South Dakota, to observe neutrino behaviour as a beam travels through the Earth. The Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) is designed to generate an unprecedented neutrino stream specifically for LBNF-DUNE, alongside providing proton beams for other ongoing experiments at the facility.
Artificial intelligence will be implemented in the analysis of neutrino events within the liquid argon detectors located in Illinois, enhancing the capabilities of the near detectors. A signed PIP-II cryomodule, a critical component for sending the neutrino beam, signifies progress in the facility’s construction. This development underscores the ongoing commitment to advanced instrumentation necessary for detailed neutrino observation and analysis.
Researchers at the Applied Physics and Superconducting Technology Division (APST-D) are developing crucial technologies, including cryogenics, superconducting magnets, and radio frequency cavities, that are essential for both next-generation accelerators and quantum research. These technologies also contribute to the upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, demonstrating the broad applicability of Fermilab’s research. This ongoing development highlights the importance of sustained neutrino research investment in supporting multiple scientific endeavours.
Advancing Quantum Technologies and Accelerator Development
Secretary Wright’s visit encompassed Fermilab’s five particle accelerators, including the Main Injector, which produces the world’s most powerful high-energy neutrino beam. The tour highlighted the laboratory’s contributions to fundamental science and discovery, with a particular focus on its accelerator capabilities. This demonstration of facilities supports Fermilab’s position as a premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research.
The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) – one of the Department of Energy’s five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers – was included in Secretary Wright’s tour. At SQMS, he learned about Fermilab’s support for quantum computing development and its potential impact on science and society. This demonstrates Fermilab’s expanding research portfolio beyond particle physics and into emerging quantum technologies.
Fermilab hosts the U.S. collaboration for the CMS experiment at CERN’s Remote Operations Center, where Secretary Wright received a briefing. This collaboration confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson, signifying Fermilab’s involvement in landmark discoveries in particle physics. The laboratory’s role in international collaborations underscores its global influence in scientific research.
Secretary Wright emphasised the importance of advancing energy technology, including nuclear and fusion power, and the critical role of basic scientific research at national laboratories like Fermilab. He specifically noted Fermilab’s leadership in understanding the fundamental structure of the cosmos, reinforcing the laboratory’s significance in addressing fundamental scientific questions. This visit was part of a year-long initiative to visit all 17 U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories.
Department of Energy Visit and Fermilab’s Strategic Role
Secretary Wright’s visit coincided with the annual Fermilab Users and Affiliates meeting and represented his tenth stop in a year-long initiative to visit all 17 U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories. Fermilab Interim Director Young-Kee Kim expressed honour at hosting Secretary Wright, highlighting the laboratory’s role as a global leader in neutrino research and scientific innovation. This acknowledgement underscores the laboratory’s standing within the international scientific community.
Fermilab is managed by Fermi Forward Discovery Group for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and is recognised as America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Further information regarding the laboratory and its ongoing projects is available at www.fnal.gov. This publicly accessible resource provides detailed insights into Fermilab’s research portfolio and activities.
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