Enriched Xenon Observatory, Neutrino research facility in Carlsbad, New Mexico, US
The Enriched Xenon Observatory is a research facility in Carlsbad, New Mexico, located 650 meters underground within a salt mine. The site houses a chamber containing roughly 150 kilograms of liquid xenon designed to detect rare particle decay events.
The facility began collecting data in May 2011 with the first observation of a rare decay process. This breakthrough opened new avenues for understanding the fundamental properties of matter.
The facility brings together researchers from around the world who work side by side on fundamental physics questions. This international collaboration has made the site a hub for investigating the nature of matter and energy.
The deep underground location requires special preparation and protective gear when entering the experimental area. Plan time for descent and note that access may be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The observatory uses specialized copper components shipped from Germany without air travel to avoid contamination from cosmic radiation. This unusual supply chain reflects the extreme precision requirements needed for accurate scientific measurements.
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