Lab History: Soudan 1 Experiment
In 1980, Marvin Marshak, a physicist from the University Of Minnesota, was looking for a location to set up an apparatus to detect the decay of protons, an event which no one had ever observed before (nor has anyone yet). The apparatus was designed to detect the particles that would be produced when a proton decays. These same particles are produced in other radioactive decay, including reactions occuring inside the sun. These particles constantly shower the Earth's surface, as a result the detector needed a place that was protected from these background particles.
Marshak took the Soudan Mine Historic tour and thought that the Soudan Mine would be the perfect place. It was deep; therefore, few background particles could reach down to the lab. It was safe; there was no blasting from an active iron mine. And yet, it still had a functional elevator and pump system because it was a historic site.
The first experiment was Soudan 1, pictured right. It was located in the 23rd level drift. It became apparent that the detector was not sensitive enough. So Soudan 1 paved the way for the Soudan 2 experiment which would run from 1989 to 2001.
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Soudan 1 Experiment located on the 23rd Level Drift in the Soudan Mine
University of Minnesota Campuses