2018/10/01 by W. H. Trzaska, L. Bezrukov, Trzaska, W. H. +15
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex) #Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det) #Neutrino Physics Research #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1810.00909
openalex publication_date 2018/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The Pyhäsalmi mine is uniquely suited to host new generation of large-scale underground experiments. It was chosen both by the LAGUNA-LBNO and by the LENA Collaboration as the preferred site for a giant neutrino observatory. Regrettably, none of these projects got funded. The termination of the underground excavations in the fall of 2019 marks an important milestone. To maintain the infrastructure in good condition a new sponsor must be found: either a large-scale scientific project or new commercial operation. The considered alternatives for the commercial used of the mine include a pumped-storage hydroelectricity plant and a high-security underground data-storage centre. Without a new sponsor the ongoing experiments, including the cosmic-ray experiment EMMA and the study of 14C content in liquid scintillators, have to be completed within the next few years.