The LAGUNA project: Towards the giant liquid based detectors for proton decay searches and for low energy neutrino astrophysics

A next generation European deep underground neutrino observatory is considered within the LAGUNA design study. Three detector options are presently considered: GLACIER liquid argon Time Projection Chamber; LENA liquid scintillator and MEMPHYS water Cherenkov. It will provide both: the high statistics measurement of neutrinos from variety of sources, and high sensitivity searches for matter instability. To accommodate such giant detectors a new underground laboratory is required. The LAGUNA design study considers the following seven candidate sites in Europe: Boulby (UK), Canfranc (Spain), Fréjus (France/Italy), Pyhäsalmi (Finland), Polkowice-Sieroszowice (Poland), Slanic (Romania) and Umbria (Italy). The three detection techniques and summary of the physics potential of proposed detectors are discussed in this short paper