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the successor experiment to the
Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
Now that the SNO experiment has completed taking
data and has returned its heavy water, the detector is
being renovated and upgraded in order to fill its core
with liquid scintillator, turning it into a new experiment.
The linear alkylbenzene
that has the best optical
properties is produced by
Petresa Canada’s plant in
Bécancour, QC.
SNO+ scientists have developed
a new liquid scintillator for use in
neutrino experiments. Linear
alkylbenzene is the basis of a
safe and inexpensive scintillating
liquid that gives off 50-100 times
more light than water.
Neutrino Physics Goals of SNO+
SNO+ is a multi-purpose neutrino detector that addresses questions in diverse fields
including particle physics, astrophysics and geosciences.
Double Beta Decay
Known
process
Does this
exist?
Neodymium, a rare earth element, will be added to
the liquid scintillator in SNO+ (at 0.1% by weight).
This will enable a search for neutrinoless double beta
decay of the isotope 150Nd. Discovery of this rare
decay process would reveal whether neutrinos are
their own antiparticles or not and can determine the
absolute neutrino mass scale.
Low Energy Solar Neutrinos
SNO+ will detect solar neutrinos with lower energies
than SNO. This will enable precision studies of
neutrino oscillations and the coupling between
neutrinos and dense matter. SNO+ will detect the pep
and CNO solar neutrinos, helping us understand the
nuclear reactions that power the Sun.
Geo Neutrinos
Existing SNO phototubes (being
inspected in the photo above) will
detect the scintillation light.
Work in the SNO Cavity (in
the photos above and right) to
install anchors in the floor.
The Earth glows with antineutrinos because of the natural
radioactivity of its interior, mainly
from uranium and thorium. SNO+
can detect these geo neutrinos.
How much of Earth’s heat is
radiogenic? What models of
Earth’s chemical origin are valid?
Composition of the continental
crust? SNO+ data will help
answer these questions. The
local geology around Sudbury is
well characterized, making this
an ideal site for geo neutrino
measurements.
Detector operator
“watching” for a
burst of
supernova
neutrinos.
Queen’s University
University of Alberta
Laurentian University
SNOLAB
TRIUMF
Brookhaven National Laboratory
University of California, Berkeley
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Black Hills State University
University of North Carolina
University of Oxford
University of Sussex
Queen Mary University of London
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
University of Sheffield
LIP Lisbon and Coimbra
TU-Dresden
Project Milestones and Schedule
Reactor Neutrinos
Nuclear power reactors emit antineutrinos that SNO+ will detect.
SNO+ will study reactor neutrino
oscillations, probing physics
beyond the Standard Model.
Supernova Neutrinos
The SNO+ acrylic vessel
filled with liquid scintillator
(0.86 g/cm3) will be buoyant.
A new hold-down system with
a rope net has been installed Rope net installation from atop the
on top of the vessel, and is
phototube structure (photo above).
tied to the floor anchors.
Collaborating Institutions
SNO+ can detect the huge burst of neutrinos which
comes from a supernova – the collapse and
explosion of a massive star – in our galaxy. Analysis
of these neutrinos will add much to the understanding
of these important astrophysical processes and
provide a glimpse at neutrino properties (neutrino
mass and mixing) that are affected by energetic and
dense astrophysical environments.
Apr 05 NSERC-funded R&D begins
Nov 06 SNO detector switched off
Apr 07 NSF funds SNO+ research group in the US
May 07 SNO heavy water removed, inspections begin
Aug 07 SNOLAB approves SNO+ space & resources
Jan 08 IPP approves SNO+ as an official IPP project
Apr 08 NSERC funds transition, construction activities
Sep 08 FedNor support for development of SNO+ CFI
Jun 09 CFI funds the SNO+ and DEAP Projects
Feb 10 STFC awards funds to SNO+ UK
Sep 10 FCT Portugal funding of LIP Lisbon and Coimbra
Sep 11 Anchors and floor liner installed in Cavity
Oct 11 New SNO+ electronics installed
Jan 12 Hold-down rope net installed on AV
Feb 12 First SNO+ air-filled detector running
Summer 12 Sanding of AV to remove radon isotopes
Fall 12 Begin installation of scintillator purification plant.
Early 2013 commissioning scintillator process systems
Early 2013 SNO+ water-filled detector running
Mid 2013 Begin filling SNO+ with liquid scintillator
Mid 2013 START OF SNO+ DATA TAKING!