Review of the Monte Bianco, Frejus and Gran-Sasso detectors

Abstract

In Europe, several massive modular tracking calorimeters are in operation (Mont Blanc), under construction (Fréjus), or in the planning stage (Gran-Sasso), to search for nucleon decay. Im view of the stringent limit on the partial lifetime τ(p → e⁺π⁰ recently obtained by the IMB water Cherenkov experiment in the USA, this choice is well justified, because the tracking calorimeters should be sensitive to decay modes other than the SU(5) favoured p → e⁺π⁰.