This giant underground neutrino detector takes over the secrets of physics

It is 700 meters Under Earth near Jiangmen, southern China, a giant ball – a 35 -meter -diameter and full of more than 20,000 tons of liquid – has just started a task to last for decades. This is it JunoJiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory, a new, wide -ranging experience that studies some of the most mysterious particles and attributed owners known as science.

Neutrons are Most molecules are abundant In the universe with the block. They are basic molecules, which means they are not divided into smaller component parts, making them very small and very light. They also have zero electric charge. It is neutral – and then their name. All this means that they often do not interact with the other issue they communicate with, and they can pass through them without affecting it, which makes it difficult to monitor. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as “ghost molecules”.

They also have the ability to transform (or “oscillation”) between three different forms, also known as “Electron”, MU and Tau. (Note that the electron neutrons are different from the electrons; the latter is a different type of basic particles, with negative charge.)

Physicists have proven the fact that neutrins swings by physicists, Takaki Kagita and Arthur Bruce McDonald. In two separate experiments, they noticed that the electron flavoring neutrons swing to the MU-and Tau nitroin. As a result, they showed that these particles have a mass, and that the mass of each flavor is different. For this, they won Nobel Prize in Physics in 2015.

But an important fact but it is still unknown is how to order these masses – which of the three flavors has the largest and least block. If physicists have a better understanding of the neutrino bloc, this may help describe the behavior and development of the universe better. This is where Juno comes.

A unique experience

Neutrons cannot be seen with traditional particles detection devices. Instead, scientists have to search for the rare signs that interact with it with another issue – and this is what Giant Juno field It is l. It is called an interest, as it is full of an internal liquid consisting of a solvent and compound of Florecent. If the neutrino that passes through this issue interact with it, it will produce a flash of light. Located in the huge Lateice Stefle Stefle Lattice, which supports a wide range of highly sensitive lighting sensors, called light lighting pipes, capable of discovering even a single photon resulting from a neutrino and liquid, and converting it into a measurable electrical signal.

“Juno’s experience picks up the heritage of its predecessors, with a difference that it is much larger,” says Gioacchino Ranuccci, Vice President of Experience and former Borexino President. Ranucci explains that one of the main features of Juno is that Juno can “see” both neutrons and counter -counter -counterparts: Antineutrinos. The first is usually produced in the Earth’s atmosphere or by decomposition of radioactive materials in the Earth’s crust Arrival from outer space– From stars, black holes, superior drawing, or even the big explosion. However, artineutrinos is artificially produced, in this case by two nuclear power plants near the detector.

“While spreading, neutrons and utereneos continue to vibrate, and turn each other,” says Ranucci. He explains that Juno will be able to capture all these signals, and explains how they swing, “with precision that has not been achieved before.”