An Assessment of the Science Proposed for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL)
2012

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According to the big bang theory, our Universe began in a state of unimaginably high energy and density, contained in a space of subatomic dimensions. At that time, unlike today, the fundamental forces of nature were presumably unified and the particles present were interacting at energies not attainable by present-day accelerators. Underground laboratories provide the conditions to investigate processes involving rare phenomena in matter and to detect the weak effects of highly elusive particles by replicating similar environments to those once harnessed during the earliest states of the Earth. These laboratories now appear to be the gateway to understanding the physics of the grand unification of the forces of nature.

Built to shield extremely sensitive detectors from the noise of their surroundings and the signals associated with cosmic rays, underground facilities have been established during the last 30 years at a number of sites worldwide. To date, the United States' efforts to develop such facilities have been modest and consist primarily of small underground laboratories. However, the U.S. underground community has pushed for larger underground facilities on the scale of major laboratories in other countries. An Assessment of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) addresses this matter by evaluating the major physics questions and experiments that could be explored with the proposed DUSEL. Measuring the potential impact, this assessment also examines the broader effects of the DUSEL in regards to education and public outreach, and evaluates the need associated with developing U.S. programs similar to science programs in other regions of the world.

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142 pages · 7 x 10 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-21723-7
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-21724-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/13204

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National Research Council. 2012. An Assessment of the Science Proposed for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Front Matter i-xiv
Summary 1-4
1 Overview 5-18
2 Description of Underground Facilities 19-27
3 Science Assessments 28-87
4 Impacts of a National Underground Facility 88-104
Appendixes 105-106
Appendix A: Statement of Task 107-107
Appendix B: Meeting Agendas 108-111
Appendix C: Biographies of Committee Members 112-117
Appendix D: Survey of the Principal Underground Laboratories 118-128

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An Assessment of the Science Proposed for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) (2012)

Chapter: Appendixes

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An Assessment of the Science Proposed for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) (2012)

Chapter: Appendixes