Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso

Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso
Overview of overground laboratories of LNGS
Established1985
Research typeParticle physics, nuclear physics
DirectorEzio Previtali (since October 2020)
LocationL'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy
42°25′16″N 13°30′59″E / 42.42111°N 13.51639°E / 42.42111; 13.51639
Operating agency
INFN
Websitewww.lngs.infn.it

Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) is the largest underground research center in the world. Situated below Gran Sasso mountain in Italy, it is well known for particle physics research by the INFN. In addition to a surface portion of the laboratory, there are extensive underground facilities beneath the mountain. The nearest towns are L'Aquila and Teramo. The facility is located about 120 km from Rome.

The primary mission of the laboratory is to host experiments that require a low background environment in the fields of astroparticle physics and nuclear astrophysics and other disciplines that can profit of its characteristics and of its infrastructures. The LNGS is, like the three other European underground astroparticle laboratories (Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane, Laboratorio subterráneo de Canfranc, and Boulby Underground Laboratory), a member of the coordinating group ILIAS.