GASP involved in the ARIA project

The GASP group is involved in the ARIA project, for the study of an isotope distillation column to be used for purification of argon and other gases. The project is led by the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and was initiated to supply the purest argon possible to the international dark matter experiment DarkSide at INFN’s Gran Sasso National Laboratories. The other product will be employed for medical purposes.

The full tower is composed of 28 identical modules, a condenser and a reboiler, and, after tests at CERN, Switzerland, will be installed in a disused mine site at Seruci in Sardinia, Italy.

More information is available at https://home.cern/cern-people/updates/2017/12/350-metre-tall-tower-purify-argon and at http://home.infn.it/newsletter-eu/pdf/NEWSL_INFN_51_ita_11.pdf

In the picture, ARIA’s modules are being leak-tested at CERN before travelling to Sardinia, Italy. The top, bottom and one standard column module have now been lined up horizontally to test their alignment. Credit: J. Ordan/CERN