Chinese scientists are diving deep into the South China Sea with prototype detectors. Their goal? To explore the idea of creating a giant underwater observatory that could hunt for neutrinos. These tiny particles come from deep space and are tough to find.
If everything goes well, this project could help scientists learn more about how cosmic rays are formed. Last month, the team placed sensitive equipment and calibration lights at a depth of 1,600 meters (5,250 feet) using the submersible Shenhai Yongshi, also known as the Deep-Sea Warrior. This work is led by the Institute of High Energy Physics in Beijing.
These detectors are now linked to China’s national underwater scientific network, which supplies power and allows data to be sent back for analysis. The aim is for the detectors to catch faint flashes of light, which indicate when neutrinos pass through.
This project is part of a larger plan to build the High-energy Underwater Neutrino Telescope (HUNT). Once finished, HUNT will be the largest underwater neutrino observatory in the world. It will have over 55,000 detectors spread across strings, covering an area of 30 cubic kilometers (7.2 cubic miles) of ocean.
The researchers at the institute believe the success of the prototype detectors is an important step toward making HUNT a reality. They hope that this project will put China at the leading edge of neutrino astronomy.
Interestingly, the South China Sea isn’t the only location under consideration for HUNT. Last spring, scientists placed prototype detectors in Lake Baikal, Siberia, at a depth of 1,300 meters, working alongside Russian scientists involved in the Baikal-GVD neutrino experiment.
Source link
science, astronomy, space, universe, neutrino, Chinese scientists, Mediterranean Sea, Deep-Sea Warrior, neutrino astronomy, China, Trident, Baikal, Institute of High Energy Physics, cosmic rays, Baikal-GVD, Lake Baikal, South China Sea, neutrino experiment, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, HUNT
