Boulby Development Call: XLZD Industrial Engagement

发现粒子暗物质（DM）的性质是物理学和STFC的关键优先事项。直接探测银河系中的电弱尺度DM是XLZD联盟的主要目标，该联盟由该领域最重要的合作伙伴XENON-nT，LUX-ZEPLIN（LZ）和达尔文组成。XLZD正在提出一项基于领先的液体氙（LIGH）技术的大型地下实验：对WIMP DM的最终搜索，能够排除或发现在不可约中微子背景之上的可访问参数空间。这样一个“罕见事件观测站”的科学潜力在一份由全世界600名作者签署的全面的白色论文中有详细说明。LZ和Xenon-nT是目前该领域的领先实验。在XLZD发现DM将对我们理解宇宙，它的诞生和它的结构产生深远的影响。STFC目前正在考虑在北约克郡的博尔比地下实验室（XLZD@Boulby）的一个最先进的新设施中主持XLZD实验的提议。该项目将使英国工业界参与规划在Boulby地下建造XLZD的工业化，确定供应必要氙库存的成本效益路线，并计划在当地培训建造、安装和操作实验所需的熟练劳动力。该项目将为当地货物、服务和人员的重大投资铺平道路，这将大大有助于东北部的平整。

Discovering the nature of particle dark matter (DM) is a key priority in Physics - and for STFC. Direct detection of electroweak-scale DM in our galaxy is the primary goal of the XLZD consortium, formed by the coming together of the foremost collaborations in the field: XENON-nT, LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) and DARWIN. XLZD is proposing a large underground experiment based on the leading liquid xenon (LXe) technology: the definitive search for WIMP DM, able to rule out or discover in the accessible parameter space remaining above the irreducible neutrino background. The scientific potential of such a "rare event observatory" is detailed in a comprehensive white paper signed by 600 authors worldwide. LZ and Xenon-nT are the leading experiments in the field at present. Discovery of DM at XLZD would have profound implications for our understanding of the universe, its birth and its structure.STFC is currently considering a proposal to host the XLZD experiment in a state-of-the-art new facility at the Boulby Underground Laboratory in North Yorkshire (XLZD@Boulby). This project will engage UK industry in planning for industrialising the construction of XLZD underground at Boulby, identify cost-effective routes to the supply of the necessary xenon stock, and plan for training of the skilled workforce in the local area that will be required to construct, install and operate the experiment. This project will prepare the way for the major investment in goods, services and people in the local area that will contribute substantially to the levelling-up of the North-East.