First characterization of the ultra-shielded chamber in the low-noise underground laboratory (LSBB) of Rustrel-Pays d'Apt
Abstract
In compliance with international agreements on nuclear weapons limitation, the French ground-based nuclear arsenal has been decommissioned in its totality. One of its former underground missile control centers, located in Rustrel, 60km east of Avignon (Provence) has been converted into the ``Laboratoire Souterrain à Bas Bruit de Rustrel-Pays d'Apt'' (LSBB). The deepest experimental hall (500m of calcite rock overburden) includes a 100m2 area of sturdy flooring suspended by and resting on shock absorbers, entirely enclosed in a 28m long, 8m diameter, 1cm thick steel capsule. This results in an unparalleled combination of shielding against cosmic rays, acoustic, seismic and electromagnetic noise, which can be exploited for rare event searches using ultra low-temperature and superconducting detectors. The first characterization measurements in this unique civilian site are reported.
- Publication:
-
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A
- Pub Date:
- April 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0168-9002(99)01377-7
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/9910192
- Bibcode:
- 2000NIMPA.444..336W
- Keywords:
-
- Astrophysics;
- Condensed Matter;
- High Energy Physics - Experiment;
- Nuclear Experiment;
- Physics - Biological Physics
- E-Print:
- Homepage and quoted hyperlinks have been updated: see http://home.cern.ch/collar/RUSTREL/rustrel.html