IRN CLAF-CNRS

The goal of this initiative is to establish a Latin-American+France network via the CLAF and the CNRS around the current and next-generation world-leading astro-particle physics experiments operating in the continent. The network will gather key Latin-American institutions from different countries actively conducting research in astroparticle physics, which will be represented under the regional umbrella of CLAF. The network will thus be built over a long history of more than 20 years of activity of these international collaborations in the continent. CNRS is a major player in all these experiments in Latin-America, and the establishment of the network as a CNRS international Research Network (IRN) will  strengthen the existing synergies and develop new collaborations across the continents in particular for the training of the new generation of researchers.

CLAF: is the leading Latin-American partner of the IRN, an inter-governmental organization established under the auspices of UNESCO, and dedicated to the development of physics in Latin-America. CLAF is recognized by 18 countries in the region and can therefore act as the ideal regional counterpart and institutional focal point for all the institutions involved in the network.

CNRS :  via the IN2P3 and INSU institutes they are directly involved in all experiments around which the network will be built, serving as the leading CNRS institutes. Through the expertise of its various laboratories, they will have a critical role in all projects and actions, co-designing and co-leading the network.

Astroparticle Physics is rapidly expanding, with the recent completion or upgrade of major facilities such as the Pierre Auger observatory and QUBIC, as well as the construction or site preparation for new instruments such as CTAO, SWGO and HERON. These are world-leading experiments with strong CNRS involvement, which cover a broad range of topics, from the study of very-high energy (VHE) gamma-rays, to ultra-high energy (UHE) cosmic-rays and neutrinos, as well as cosmology.

Therefore the scientific activities in the network will be organized around the three main pillars of the IRN: Gamma-rays, Cosmic-rays and neutrinos, and Cosmology.