ANDES, an underground laboratory in the Agua Negra tunnel H. Asorey 1, X. Bertou 1, O. Civitarese 2, M. Gómez Berisso 1 1 CNEA/CONICET, Centro Atómico Bariloche, Instituto Balseiro, Argentina 2 CONICET, Departamento de Física. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. UNLP, Argentina VIII SILAFAE, December 2010
Underground Laboratories
Muon flux vs depth Muon flux at sea level: few 100 m 2 s 1
Experiments in underground laboratories - ν Neutrinos Atmospheric neutrinos Solar neutrinos Astrophysical neutrinos Neutrino oscillations Neutrino mass Neutrino nature (double beta decay) Geoneutrinos
Experiments in underground laboratories - DM Dark matter search: WIMPs Cryogenic detectors Noble liquid detectors Direct detection Indirect signal (modulation)
Experiments in underground laboratories - Others Geoscience Biology low radioactivity measurements... material selection climatology, environment microelectronics
Underground Laboratories None in the southern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere and Latin America? South Africa First natural neutrino 1965 South America Argentina: experiment at Sierra Grande mine (1000 wme) Search for an annual modulation of dark-matter signals with a germanium spectrometer at the Sierra Grande laboratory Astropart.Phys. 10 (1999) 133-139 Brasil: search for a mine by Lattes Chile: El Teniente mine prospected Latin America Mexico: proposal of the multidisciplinary mexican underground laboratory (LSMM) for Mega Proyectos 2006
Some Underground laboratories Laboratories in mines SNOLab, Kamiokande Homestake: possible extention (DUSEL) Laboratories in tunnels Gran Sasso: 3 halls of (100 20 20) m 3 Total volume: 180 000 m 3 Modane: main hall of (30 10 11) m 3 3 secondary rooms (70 + 18 + 21) m 2 4.5m Mines easier to build/expand Tunnels easier to access, to work within
The Agua Negra tunnel and the ANDES laboratory
Andes crossing It is of strategic importance for the region to increase exportation to the Asian market The natural way for Argentina and Brazil is to export by boat through Chile There are various passes. The main one, the Cristo Redentor tunnel from Mendoza to Santiago, cannot fulfil the increasing international demand, especially in winter when it has to close due to strong snows, with thousands of trucks stuck every year Argentina, Brazil and Chile have been looking for years at an alternative based on a low altitude tunnel There have been various proposals for Mendoza - Santiago (train tunnel, Las Leñas pass) and San Juan - Coquimbo (Agua Negra)
The Agua Negra tunnel context Recently the San Juan - Coquimbo option is favoured A pre-feasibility study started in 2005 In 2008 more complex studies and prospectives were made to conclude on the feasibility of the project Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Michelle Bachelet signed a Bi-National Integration treaty, including the San Juan - Coquimbo option, in October 2009, voted later on by both countries Last MERCOSUR meeting was in San Juan beginning of August and a strong support for the Agua Negra tunnel was given, with Lula da Silva pushing for the tunnel tender to be started before the end of his term (end of this year) Two step tender, end of this year(?) and mid-end 2011 Seems likely that the tunnel construction will start next year Total cost is about 850 MU$D
Location of the Agua Negra pass
Tunnel proposed 2 tunnels, 12 m each, separated by 60 m, 14 km long Argentine entry point at the Quebrada San Lorenzo, 4085 m a.s.l. Chilean entry point on a ridge, at 3600 m a.s.l. Internal connexion galleries every 500 m Deepest point at 1750 m depth 3700 m of altitude relatively remote hot tunnel 30 40 C Ideal depth for an Underground Laboratory ( Frejus-Modane)
2 tunnels separated by 60 m
Geology studies
Results of Geology studies Main rock: Andesite density 2.7 g.cm 3, low radioactivity Variations: basalt (+ dense, - radioactive) rhyolite (- dense, + radioactive) 4500-4800 mwe low radioactivity
ANDES Laboratory concept
ANDES Laboratory zoomed
ANDES Laboratory details Located at km 3.5-5 3 big halls: main hall 1: (20 25 50) m 3 hall 2: same size, 3-4 floors hall 3: pit 15-20 m, 20 m depth Linear tunnel for interferometer/accelerator Total cost 10 MU$D + 2 external labs + experiments cost
Something special about ANDES? Only underground laboratory in southern hemisphere Opposite weather modulations 7600 km from Fermilab 12400 km from KEK low reactor neutrino background
Tunnel schedule Inauguration in 2017 (2018?) The laboratory would be in the km 3.5-5 Lab construction starting in 2013 (2014?) Include the laboratory in the tunnel (final) tender Need to have factibility studies mid 2011 Cost 1% of lab cost (100 ku$d)
El Consorcio Latinoamericano de Experimentos Subterráneos (CLES) The Latinamerican Consortium for Underground Experiments
The Latinamerican Consortium for Underground Experiments (CLES) The MERCOSUR (UNASUR) aspect of the Agua Negra tunnel can be naturally extended to the ANDES laboratory Excellent opportunity to have an international laboratory, not only international experiments The CLES could be our seed for a small CERN with respect of underground experiments (not only high energy: geology, biology, technology...) Common participation for the ANDES laboratory operation and operating funds CLES would form the Scientific Committee to manage the ANDES laboratory
Current Status Strong interest among colleagues Argentina, Brasil, Chile Others (Mexico, France, Italy, Russia, US...) within Geoconsult Buenos Aires SA within the San Juan province in Argentina in Argentine and Brasilean authorities Next steps project scientific evaluation make contacts in Coquimbo province finalize laboratory design factibility project to finalize mid 2011 Time is of the essence
Conclusions Unique opportunity for a Latinamerican Consortium Argentina, Chile, Brasil Mexico (LSMM, Megaproyectos 2006) Other interested countries? Participation to the Scientific Committee Contribution to Operating Costs Project support Scientific support Political support Get money for Feasibility study Work on including the lab in the tunnel tender ANDES Workshop (in Buenos Aires 11-15 April 2011?) Scientific program for the laboratory Define possible experiments Fix laboratory size and shape Web page: http://bit.ly/andeslab
Thank you!