In this new space, ULS academics work on various projects with important scientific entities in the world, such as CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research).

The University of La Serena inaugurated the X-PLUS laboratory (eXperimental Physics Laboratory at UlS) of Experimental Physics of the Department of Physics, a space where collaboration projects are carried out with important international research centers, such as CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) of Switzerland. The activities with CERN are part of the actions of the SAPHIR Millennium Institute, in which the university participates jointly with the UNAB, PUC and USM.

The facilities have an electronics laboratory equipped for the development and testing of particle detectors, as well as a Cosmic Ray laboratory equipped with "Water Cherenkov" type detectors and a hodoscope with scintillation bars. In addition, it has a Manufacturing laboratory equipped with filament and resin 3D printers, and soon with a machine for manufacturing electronic circuits.

“Our active participation in international centers such as CERN continues to be part of the institutional challenges, which, in particular, allows us a significant impact on the development of experimental physics at our university, consolidating our position as leaders in research and technology. at a national and international level," said the Rector, Dr. Luperfina Rojas, who added that this laboratory that arises as part of the award of the Millennium Institute financed by the Chilean Agency ANID, in collaboration with other universities in Chile, "has meant a real boost to technological development, multidisciplinary work, and levels of scientific productivity.”

In the activity - which was part of the celebration of the 43rd institutional anniversary - Rector Rojas indicated that this space “responds to the institutional strategic guidelines and marks a significant milestone in our mission of academic excellence and scientific and technological advancement for the country. Likewise, this high-level initiative of scientific research and innovation allows us to continue consolidating support for innovation through the new Innovation and Creation Office.”

The Director of the Department. of Physics, Dr. Juan Carlos Helo, explained that the activities carried out in this laboratory are not only at the scientific forefront, but also have a significant impact at the national level. “Our collaboration with CERN is a clear example of this, given the context in which Chile is applying to be an associate member of this prestigious international research center. The Charge Monitoring Board project, in which academics from our University participate, is an unprecedented milestone in the scientific collaboration between Chile and CERN, given that it is the first time that said center has commissioned Chile alone to develop devices for its detectors. Today we can proudly say that the ULS is one of the main institutions involved in this emblematic project," he mentioned.

The academic also explained that in this laboratory “we lead astroengineering projects, an area of ​​great national and strategic interest in terms of technological development. Thanks to ANID's QUIMAL project, of which ULS is the lead university, we are building cosmic ray detectors that will be tested in extreme weather conditions in the Chilean desert, in collaboration with world-renowned cosmic ray experiments such as the SWGO astroparticle observatory ”.

In the field of human capital formation, this space is connected with the Doctorate and Master's in Physics, where students carry out their degree theses, as well as the Bachelor's Degree in Physics, where training is being expanded in the experimental area. . 

For the Dean of the ULS Faculty of Sciences, Dr. Luis Palma, the inauguration of this laboratory is “a transcendental milestone in our faculty's path towards academic excellence, world-class research and interdisciplinary collaboration.” And he added that the connection of this laboratory with renowned entities "places us at the epicenter of research in particle physics, opening the doors to new possibilities and discoveries in the field of high energy."