MRI: Acquisition of an Ultra-clean, Underground Electroforming and Parts Fabrication Instrumentation Facility

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The recent discoveries in neutrino physics, astrophysics, and cosmology have revolutionized our view of neutrinos, dark matter, and the cosmos, while also bringing forth an intriguing set of interconnected questions concerning fundamental symmetries, the basic interactions of subatomic particles, and the role neutrinos play in the universe. Next generation underground experiments searching for the extremely rare processes that probe these questions require ultra-clean materials, containing the smallest obtainable amounts of naturally occurring radioactive uranium (U) and thorium (Th) decay-chain contaminants. Contaminants at these levels will produce unacceptable backgrounds in many of the planned new experiments, such as neutrinoless double beta-decay and dark matter searches. This award will provide funds for advanced, ultra-clean electroforming instrumentation to be installed and operated underground at the Sanford Underground Laboratory at Homestake in Lead, SD. The initial use will be for the production of electroformed components for the Majorana Demonstrator neutrino-less double beta decay experiment. Among the Broader Impacts of this award, the instrumentation and laboratory will benefit future experiments and the field in general. An additional benefit will be the training of students, technicians, and scientists, from both South Dakota and the US, in electroforming methods and low-background techniques. These are important disciplines that serve as a foundation for a substantial component of underground science.