MRI: Acquisition of an Ultra-clean, Underground Electroforming and Parts Fabrication Instrumentation Facility

MRI：收购超洁净地下电铸和零件制造仪器设施

基本信息

批准号：
0923142
负责人：
John Wilkerson
金额：
$ 69.01万
依托单位：
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2009
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2009-09-01 至 2011-08-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0923142&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
MRI Acquisition Ultra clean Underground

项目摘要

The recent discoveries in neutrino physics, astrophysics, and cosmology have revolutionized our view of neutrinos, dark matter, and the cosmos, while also bringing forth an intriguing set of interconnected questions concerning fundamental symmetries, the basic interactions of subatomic particles, and the role neutrinos play in the universe. Next generation underground experiments searching for the extremely rare processes that probe these questions require ultra-clean materials, containing the smallest obtainable amounts of naturally occurring radioactive uranium (U) and thorium (Th) decay-chain contaminants. Contaminants at these levels will produce unacceptable backgrounds in many of the planned new experiments, such as neutrinoless double beta-decay and dark matter searches. This award will provide funds for advanced, ultra-clean electroforming instrumentation to be installed and operated underground at the Sanford Underground Laboratory at Homestake in Lead, SD. The initial use will be for the production of electroformed components for the Majorana Demonstrator neutrino-less double beta decay experiment. Among the Broader Impacts of this award, the instrumentation and laboratory will benefit future experiments and the field in general. An additional benefit will be the training of students, technicians, and scientists, from both South Dakota and the US, in electroforming methods and low-background techniques. These are important disciplines that serve as a foundation for a substantial component of underground science.

中微子物理学、天体物理学和宇宙学的最新发现彻底改变了我们对中微子、暗物质和宇宙的看法，同时也提出了一系列有趣的相互关联的问题，涉及基本对称性、亚原子粒子的基本相互作用以及中微子的作用在宇宙中玩耍。下一代地下实验寻找探寻这些问题的极其罕见的过程，需要超洁净的材料，其中含有尽可能少的天然放射性铀 (U) 和钍 (Th) 衰变链污染物。这些水平的污染物将在许多计划的新实验中产生不可接受的背景，例如无中微子双β衰变和暗物质搜索。该奖项将为先进的超洁净电铸仪器提供资金，这些仪器将在南达科他州利德市 Homestake 的桑福德地下实验室进行地下安装和操作。最初的用途将是为马约拉纳演示器无中微子双贝塔衰变实验生产电铸组件。在该奖项的更广泛影响中，仪器和实验室将使未来的实验和整个领域受益。另一个好处是对来自南达科他州和美国的学生、技术人员和科学家进行电铸方法和低本底技术方面的培训。这些都是重要的学科，是地下科学重要组成部分的基础。