Hands-on Experimental Underground Physics at LNGS
27 October 2014
GRAN SASSO SUMMER INSTITUTE 2014
LNGS: A Unique Research Facility
The Gran Sasso d’Italia is a beautiful mountain located in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, immersed in a National Park of exceptional beauty. The Gran Sasso National Laboratory (Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, LNGS), the largest and most advanced underground laboratory in the world, is situated on one side of a 10-kilometre highway tunnel crossing the Gran Sasso massif. Its low background environment (provided by the 1400-metre rock coverage) is ideal for hosting experiments in the fields of astroparticle physics and nuclear astrophysics, which lie at the intersection of particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. The main research topics currently carried out at LNGS are neutrino physics, cross-section measurements of rare nuclear processes of astrophysical relevance, neutrino-less double beta decay, dark matter searches, and low rate counting for radioactivity measurements.
LNGS is used as a worldwide facility by more than 900 scientists from 30 different countries, who are working on 20 experiments in different phases of realization: Neutrino experiments such as BOREXINO, ICARUS, LVD and OPERA are aimed at identifying and characterizing neutrinos from different natural sources, like the Sun, the Earth, the atmosphere, supernovae, or artificially produced by accelerators and other sources. The experiments CUORE and GERDA search for neutrinoless double beta decay in different isotopes. Dark matter and WIMP searches are performed through the experiments CRESST, DAMA, DARKSIDE and XENON, using detectors exploiting complementary techniques. Nuclear cross sections relevant in astrophysical and cosmological processes are directly measured by the LUNA experiment. Small effects due to general relativity are studied by the GINGER experiment. Innovative experimental technologies are being developed by the COBRA and LUCIFER projects, aiming at the discovery of neutrinoless double beta decay.
LNGS is a consortium member of APPEC and as one of its functional centres it carries three main functions: Networking among European institutions and projects; Organizing a “virtual theoretical astroparticle physics centre for the interpretation of experimental data; Organizing periodical international schools for graduate students.
Summer Institute 2014: An Educational Opportunity in Astroparticle Physics
The Gran Sasso Summer Institute 2014 was organized in LNGS after the positive experience of the ISAPP Summer Institute held at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The objective was to get graduate students and young post-docs directly involved into the research carried out at LNGS. Under the supervision of Gran Sasso researchers the participants carried out hands-on activities related to the experiments currently underway. The Summer Institute took place between 22 September and 3 October 2014 and focused on the following topics:
- Dark Matter (CREEST, DAMA, DARK SIDE, XENON)
- Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay (CUORE, GERDA, LUCIFER)
- Neutrino Oscillations (BOREXINO, ICARUS, OPERA)
- Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA)
- Low Radioactivity Measurements (STELLA)
- Geodesy and General Relativity (GINGER)
The school was attended by 26 participants (7 female and 19 male), associated with universities and research institutes active in astroparticle physics located in 10 different countries (China, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA). “The Institute had a strong appeal in the international scientific community” says Maddalena Antonello, researcher at LNGS, currently member of the ICARUS and LBNE collaborations and member of the Local Organizing Committee of the Gran Sasso Summer Institute. “Indeed the students were coming from major laboratories and Universities in the Astroparticle and Nuclear Astrophysics fields, such as Fermilab, Caltech, Princeton University, Seoul National University, IFIC Valencia, Max Plank Institute Heidelberg, Tokyo University” she adds.
The students first attended a series of lectures providing them with the background necessary to carry out the practical activities. The lectures, delivered by world-wide experts, focused on experimental topics, techniques and methods relevant for underground astroparticle physics.
The hands-on work was structured around 17 activities and carried out in small groups of 1-2 students to promote discussion and interaction in informal and constructive ways. At the end of the two weeks the students reported the results of their research projects in short seminars. These will also be published as proceeding papers in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of Science.
In addition to the educational activities, the students took part in excursions and social events and had the chance to discover the Gran Sasso National Park and its surroundings, including the top of “Gran Sasso” Mountain (Corno Grande) and the charming medieval villages nearby.
“The major success of the Institute was the positive feedback we got from the students about the peculiarity of this school: the possibility to actively learn an experimental technique or method, which will certainly be useful in their future scientific career” says the scientific secretary of the Summer Institute Carla Macolino, postdoctoral researcher working in the GERDA experiment at LNGS and Gran Sasso Science Institute.
The Summer Institute has aroused considerable interest and the organizers hope that the initiative will be repeated next year, providing a unique educational opportunity for doctoral students in astroparticle physics around the world: “Our feeling is that the Gran Sasso Summer Institute experience was very positive for everybody: students, organizers, tutors and lecturers. We believe that the success of this first edition will be a good starting point for further editions we wish to organize”, say Carla and Maddalena.
Comments of a student
”Gran Sasso Summer Institute 2014 was a great experience for me. It gave opportunity to know more about neutrino physics, the field in which I am working. The lectures covered topics about fields as interesting and exciting as neutrino oscillations, dark matter searches, nuclear astrophysics, neutrinoless double beta decay and general relativity.
The visit to the underground lab was very interesting since we got a chance to see all the famous experiments. It was quite exciting to do a summer project in a very prestigious institute like LNGS.
The hands-on session was very good. Our group worked on ICARUS data analysis which was very interesting. We got great encouragement and support from our tutors Maddalena and Iza who guided us very well.
Not only did we learn about our own hands on experiment, but in the student presentations, we got to know about what the other students did too, which was really great. We were given great hospitality and help by the organizers. I am grateful to the organizers for selecting me to be a part of this prestigious school. It was a great experience.“
The Gran Sasso Summer Institute 2014 was realized thanks to the amazing work of the LOC, composed by staff members at Gran Sasso (M. Antonello, S. Davini, A. D. Ferella, P. Gorla, A. Ianni (Chair), M. Junker, C. Macolino (Scientific Secretary), M. Mannarelli, L. Pilo, S. Ragazzi, F. Chiarizia) and with the support of the following institutions: Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), International School on AstroParticle Physics (ISAPP), Astroparticle Physics European Consortium (APPEC), Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI), Department of Physics of L’Aquila University, Center for Astroparticle Physics (CFA).
The International Advisory Committee was composed by highest level scientists: F. Avignone (University of South Carolina), F. Calaprice (Princeton University), E. Coccia (Gran Sasso Science Institute), K. Eitel (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), F. Ferroni (Università di Roma La Sapienza & INFN), S. Katsanevas (Université Paris VII, Denis Diderot & CNRS), A. Masiero (Università di Padova & INFN), K. Peach (University of Oxford), F. Pröbst (Max Plank Institute für Physik, Munchen), S. Ragazzi (INFN LNGS), S. Schönert (Technische Universität, Munchen), G. Senjanovic (Gran Sasso Science Institute).
The Gran Sasso Summer Institute 2014 is included in the framework of the following EU Funded Project: Progetto Speciale Multiasse “La Società della Conoscenza in Abruzzo” (PO FSE Abruzzo 2007-2013 – Piano Operativo 2009-2010-2011).