Ideas for future liquid Argon detectors

Abstract

We outline a strategy for future experiments on neutrino and astroparticle physics based on the use, at different detector mass scales (100 ton and 100 kton), of the liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC) technique. The LAr TPC technology has great potentials for both cases with large degree of interplay between the two applications and a strong synergy. The ICARUS R&D programme has demonstrated that the technology is mature and that one can built a large ($\sim$ 1 kton) LAr TPC. We believe that one can conceive and design a very large mass LAr TPC with a mass of 100 kton by employing a monolithic technology based on the use of industrial, large volume cryogenic tankers developed by the petro-chemical industry. We show a potential implementation of a large LAr TPC detector. Such a detector would be an ideal match for a Superbeam, Betabeam or Neutrino Factory, covering a broad physics program that could include the detection of atmospheric, solar and supernova neutrinos, and search for proton decays, in addition to the rich accelerator neutrino physics program. In parallel, physics is calling for another application of the LAr TPC technique at the level of 100 ton mass, for low energy neutrino physics and for use as a near station setup in future long baseline neutrino facilities. We present here the main physics objectives and outline the conceptual design of such a detector.