XXth International Conference on Neutrino Physics and Astrophysics
D.Motta for the LENS Collaboration
LLBF: LENS Prototype at Gran Sasso
The LENS project is currently in an advanced pilot phase, whose aim is
to prove or disprove the feasibility of the detector's concept. Most
of the key questions concerning the response of the LENS detector can
only be answered by a realistic prototype. In the year 2001 the LENS
Low Background Facility (LLBF) has been installed at the Gran Sasso
underground laboratories. The installation of the LLBF is now
complete and we will describe its main features and performances. The
aim of the LLBF is to house and run a prototype segment of the LENS
detector, which will be installed during summer 2002. Here we present
the status and perspectives of this prototype project. We expect to
finalize the LENS pilot phase by 2003, after the results of the LLBF
prototype. By that time the collaboration will be ready to submit a
scientific proposal for the construction of the experiment.