A new study led by Dr. Jilberto Zamora, associate researcher at the Millennium Institute SAPHIR, presents the design and validation of ColdBox, an innovative protective structure developed for CERN's Scattering and Neutrino Detector at the LHC (SND@LHC) experiment.
The ColdBox was designed to protect highly sensitive detector components—in particular, nuclear emulsion films—from the intense neutron radiation present in the environment of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), as well as to ensure stable environmental conditions of temperature and humidity necessary for long-term operation.
The solution combines a double-layer shielding system, optimized using advanced simulations with FLUKA software, which significantly reduces neutron flux. The results show a decrease of more than three orders of magnitude in incident thermal radiation, in line with preliminary experimental measurements. At the same time, the design incorporates a thermal insulation system that guarantees the environmental stability required by the detector.
This work represents a concrete contribution by SAPHIR to the development of cutting-edge technologies in particle physics instrumentation, strengthening Chile's participation in international experiments at CERN and consolidating the Institute's role in the research and construction of advanced detectors for the exploration of the subatomic universe.