Boulby Laboratory (UK)

Plymouth

London

Birmingham

Liverpool

Newcastle

Edinburgh

Inverness

Belfast

Dublin

Redcar

Hartlepool

Peterlee

Middlesbrough

Billingham

Newton Aycliffe

Stockton

Darlington

Middlesborough

Whitby

Staithes

York

Boulby Laboratory

Stub BStub A

Low Background Lab

ZEPLIN - II ZEPLIN - III

DRIFT-I Lab

Mess

Gas/fire sensorcontrol

Workshop

Store

DRIFT -II

Store / DRIFT -IIPhase B

Materialsclean-off

Change area

Air shower

Boulby Dark Matter Detectors

Activity at the Boulby FacilityThe ZEPLIN III dark matter experiment is continuing at Boulby, through second data run. Results from first run are now published (see next)

The DRIFT II dark matter experiment is supported by NSF. Recent visit by NSF (Jim Whitmore) very successful and awaiting extension funding for post 2012. Recent upgrade successful (see next).

The DRIFT III dark matter proposal underway.

SKY0 climate change experiment completed (cloud formation by cosmic rays). Next generation SKY-I experiment proposed for Boulby.

LAGUNA (50-1000kton neutrino physics) design study continues. Boulby is one of 7 European sites being considered (see next). Technical feasibility of cavern confirmed by AAE Ltd. mining consultants

Geo-physics and detector research projects also underway

Science at Boulby is strongly supported by the mine company CPL: There is an executive board that oversees this - Graham Clarke (CPL manager); Geof Tomlinson (Sheffield); David Petley (Durham Geophysics); Mike Cowling (Crown Estates); Sean Paling/Neil Spooner

Neil Spooner - SheffieldCOSMO2009 09/09/09

August 2009 First science runRecent ZEPLIN III Result

ZEPLIN III at Boulby

two-phase8 kg (fiducial)

31 2” PMTs bottom only

Recent DRIFTII Upgrade

QuickTime™ and aMotion JPEG OpenDML decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aMotion JPEG OpenDML decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Multi-panel 0.9μm thick DRIFT cathodecathode tested at full

voltage (32.5kV)

DRIFT II is now volume limited.... not background limited

No compromise on directional sensitivity needed to achieve this

DRIFTII SD LimitThis new SD llimit is achieved with no compromise on directional sensitivity (others experiments on plot do not have this)

this is ~x1000 better than any competitor directional WIMP detector

DRIFT III Concept for Boulby

LAGUNA - new ramp complete

440 page design document completed for Boulby

New Ramp down into hard dolomite rock at 1200-1300m depth completed (this is 100-200m below the salt level of the Palmer lab)

LAGUNA at BoulbyGLACIER Liquid Argon Cavern Design completed by AMCO Ltd amd AAE Ltd.

diamater 80m

ANSYS Geo-technical simulations by AAE Ltd. confirm technical feasibility of LAGUNA at Boulby

LAGUNA Cavern is Feasible at Boulby

Conclusion

We (including CPL) are waiting hopefully for STFC to honour commitment to interim support while we put in place alternative funding and new experiments.

Palmer lab operating costs are ~£300K/year (JIF/PPARC capital investment was £3.1M).

Decommissioning costs are high because of the need to remove all materials from the Palmer excavation for safety reasons.

Boulby continues to produce world leading science and is in demand (e.g. NSF, Danish agencies....)