Giant US particle detector fridge to hold 50,000 tons of liquid argon

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), led by the US Department of Energy’s Fermilab, is set to build the world’s largest cryogenic particle detector a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota. The DUNE far detector will consist of multiple enormous modules filled with liquid argon, with the first two modules each requiring about five Olympic swimming pools’ worth of liquid argon—approximately 17,000 metric tons per pool. Overall, the detector will hold over 50,000 tons of liquid argon, maintained at minus 303 degrees Fahrenheit using advanced cryostats designed to operate for around 20 years. The project involves significant logistical challenges, including worldwide coordination and safety considerations, with the first two modules expected to be operational by 2032. Once operational, the DUNE detector will use ultrasensitive components immersed in purified liquid argon to capture detailed 3D images of neutrino interactions. This will enable precise measurements of neutrino oscillations