Sept. 29, 2008 - Today Europeans presented to the world their strategy for the future of astroparticle physics. What is dark matter? What is the origin of cosmic rays? What is the role of violent cosmic processes? Can we detect gravitational waves? With seven types of major large-scale projects physicists want to find the answer to some of the most exciting questions about the Universe:
* CTA, a large array of Cherenkov Telescopes for detection of cosmic high-energy gamma rays
* KM3NeT, a cubic kilometre-scale neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean Sea
* Ton-scale detectors for dark matter search
* A ton-scale detector for the determination of the fundamental nature and mass of neutrinos
* A Megaton-scale detector for proton decay's search, neutrino astrophysics & investigation of neutrino properties
* A large array for the detection of charged cosmic rays
* A third-generation underground gravitational antenna
"New exciting discoveries lie ahead; it is up to us to take the lead on them in the next decade." says Christian Spiering from DESY – Germany who chaired the Roadmap Committee. After two years of roadmap process, the publication of the European strategy for astroparticle physics is an important step for the field outlining a leading role for Europe in this increasingly globalised endeavour.
From undersea and underground laboratories to space, or in the most isolated deserts, astroparticle physics experiments accept very exciting challenges. It is a promising and rapidly growing field of research at the intersection of particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics, aiming to detect the most elusive particles, and to penetrate the most intimate secrets of the Universe.
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