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Superpressure Neutrino Detector--L'Garde, Inc., 15181 Woodlawn Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780-6419; 714-259-0771
Dr. Koorosh Guidanean, Principal Investigator
Mr. Roger Garrett, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-99ER82810
Amount: $99,913
For neutrino detection, used in high energy physics research, a sphere of scintillating liquid must be held precisely, without significant distortion, inside a sphere of oil. In this system, a pressurized balloon holds the scintillating oil submerged within the sphere of oil. Superpressure balloon technology allows the balloon to have a controlled shape without cable or strap reinforcements. The Phase I project will analyze critical and pertinent properties of balloon materials, including ultimate strength, modulus, permeability, and transmissivity for candidate thin films. After major candidates are selected, accelerated aging tests will determine their stability. Strong bonding techniques will be developed to produce the films and analytical modeling will be used to predict shape control.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This technology should provide an elegant and inexpensive method of neutrino detection, facilitating the next step in exploring the nature of the universe through observations of the type and possible mass of the elusive neutrino. Similar techniques should be generally applicable to water or fuel storage facilities, and directly applicable to atmospheric superpressure balloons for Earth or planetary exploration.