Enhancing Astroparticle Physics through ILIAS: A Collaborative Infrastructure Initiative

1. ILIAS Project Summary ILIAS is an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative that has pulled together all of Europe's leading infrastructures in Astroparticle Physics ILIAS results from an extensive consultation of the community and an internal review process through the Astroparticle Physics European Co-ordination ( ApPEC ). ILIAS will strengthen the new coordination by focusing on the following: i) Physics in deep underground laboratories A rapid increase of users will benefit from dedicated experimental underground areas, ultra- low background instrumentation, cryogenic installations, computing networks etc. One Transnational Access Activity (TA1) Three Networks (dark matter, double b decay, underground science labs) Two Joint Research Activities (JRA1 & 2) (low bkgd techniques, bb decay technique R&D) ii) Gravitational wave detection One network is designed to structure the activities using the two large European interferometers and the three resonant cryogenic detectors, complemented by a joint research activity to investigate new materials, new cryogenic techniques, and fundamental thermal noise mechanisms. iii) Theoretical astroparticle physics This network underpins the experiments and infrastructures of the field. It is designed to encourage cooperative theoretical projects, improve links with experiments, promote better understanding of existing data and help define future projects.

2. http://ilias.in2p3.fr/ilias_site/ilias.htm

3. Lessons from ILIAS An Integrated DUSEL can build on the ILIAS experience Different upper management and funding, but some of the same entitiesSteering and peer review Retain the N, JRA, TA structure e.g. TA can be our multi-site coordination entity Each Network and JRA has clearly defined objectives and regular committee meetings Include more networksmicrobiology, geology, engineering Utilize the JRA structure for low background counting prototyping development of high purity materials Gravitational would probably not be included IUS would be a good start on the theoretical network

4. ILIAS Project Examples A sampling of ILIAS projects which would not have happened WITHOUT an integrative structure Dr Jan Kisiel (University of Silesia, Poland) to perform background radioactivity measurements using Radon and Germanium detectors for all the ILIAS underground laboratories (TA1) Dr Wolgango Plastino (University of Roma Tre) geophysics/siesmic monitoring survey of ILIAS underground laboratories (TA1) Creating a standard library of tested simulation codes, including benchmarking MC with comparisons to underground and accelerator data. (JRA1) Improved health and safety, via exchange of best practice experience. Creat a common approach on safety procedures specific to underground sites. (N2) Build an extensive database on isotopically enriched isotopes and the nuclear matrix elements to guide future experimental choices in double b decay (N4)