UNDERWATER NEUTRINO: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

UNDERWATER NEUTRINO: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NEWS: Why scientists are installing underwater telescopes to detect ‘ghost particles’

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Scientists are deploying two telescopes under the Mediterranean Sea as part of the KM3NeT project to study high-energy neutrinos, which provide insights into hidden cosmic phenomena.

 

Neutrinos and Their Significance

  • Definition: Neutrinos are chargeless subatomic particles similar to electrons but with no electric charge.
  • Abundance: They are the second most abundant particles in the universe after photons.
  • Detection Challenge: Despite billions passing through every cubic centimetre of space each second, they rarely interact with matter, making them extremely difficult to detect.
  • Scientific Value: High-energy neutrinos originating from cosmic events (e.g., supernovae, gamma-ray bursts) help scientists study obscured regions of space, such as the center of the Milky Way, which is hidden by cosmic dust.

2. Mechanism of Detection

  • Cherenkov Radiation: Neutrino telescopes detect flashes of light (Cherenkov radiation) produced when neutrinos interact with water or ice molecules.
  • Sensors: Arrays of sensors trace the path of these light flashes to determine the neutrinos’ source, energy, and other properties.
  • Optimal Conditions: Locations must be dark with optically transparent material, like water or ice, for effective light detection.

3. Why Underwater for KM3NeT?

  • While both water and ice are suitable for neutrino detection, underwater telescopes offer some advantages:
  • Light Scattering: Water scatters light less than ice, improving the precision of detection.
  • Challenges: Water absorbs light more than ice, which limits the detectable light intensity.
  • KM3NeT leverages these properties to enhance the efficiency of neutrino detection under the sea.

 

4. KM3NeT and Its Goals

  • Dual Telescopes:
  • One telescope studies high-energy neutrinos from space.
  • The other examines atmospheric neutrinos.
  • Comparison: These telescopes function similarly to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica but operate underwater instead of in ice. 

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/underwater-telescopes-neutrinos-9753438/#:~:text=That%20is%20because%20water%20scatters,be%20less%20light%20to%20examine.