UK scientists and engineers have reached a key milestone in the construction of the DUNE detectors: they have completed half of the 137 giant neutrino sensors known as Anode Plane Assemblies (APAs). These devices will capture the tiny electrical signals left by neutrinos as they interact with liquid argon inside the experiment's underground detectors.

DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) is the largest international project devoted to the study of neutrinos. Its goal is to analyse how these particles change flavour along their path and thereby address open questions such as the possible asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the universe. The APAs are essential components of the time projection chamber (TPC) technology DUNE will use to record the tracks of charged particles produced in each interaction.

The work forms part of the UK contribution to the assembly of the detectors, which will be installed in the underground facilities of the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota (United States). Completing the first half of the 137 APA modules confirms that the production chain is running as planned and allows work to move forward on integrating the remaining sensors.