Center for ultra-low background experiments at DUSEL

The selection of Homestake Mine in Lead South Dakota by National Science Foundation (NSF) as the site for Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) opened new research opportunities in the state of South Dakota. One of many efforts allowing the scientists a significant participation in the activities planned at DUSEL was the creation of a 2010 Research Center focused on the production of ultra-low background materials or a Center for Ultra-low Background Experiments at DUSEL (CUBED). The main objectives of this research center are: (1) to bring together the current South Dakota faculty to develop a critical mass of expertise necessary for the state's full participation in the largescale collaboration at DUSEL; (2) to increase the number of research faculty members in the state to complement and supplement existing expertise in nuclear physics and materials sciences; (3) to train and educate graduate and undergraduate students. The main research focus of CUBED is aimed at experiments searching for rare and difficult to detect phenomena such as neutrinoless double beta decay and dark matter. Major scientific activities proposed by CUBED include a low background counting facility, an underground crystal growth lab, a purification/depletion facility on noble gases, and an underground electroforming copper facility. We will provide detailed information of research activities at CUBED.