Largest Underwater Neutrino Detector Is Larger Than Burj Khalifa!

Neutrinos, also called the “special little things”, do not move as fast as light but they can penetrate through almost all surfaces. These charge less particles interact with surfaces in minimal quantities thus more often, it is not noticed. Now that problem can be overcome by the giant neutrino detector, scientists are constructing. It is said to be the largest and the most powerful tool of its kind developed so far and is called KM3NeT. Currently 40 institutions from over 10 countries of Europe are working together for the development of the device. It is said to be teller that the tallest building, Burj Khalifa but it will be places under water, at a depth of 3,200 feet beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

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It has a volume of several cubic kilometers, and with the increased area, we have a better chance of interacting with the particles. Another similar but smaller neutron detector called IceCube is located at the South Pole, and has not detected an extraterrestrial neutron yet.  So the increase in artea may play an important role in success. The structure has lengths of cable with optical modules at the end. The modules are thousands in number. Each Digital Optical Module (DOM) is a standalone sensor module with 31 3-inch PMTs in a 17-inch glass sphere. These optical modules are used to capture the particles, which in turn will help the researches understand the direction in which they came from and help them identify the sources of powerful radiation. Far away across the universe, cosmic forces can rip apart subatomic particles and produce neutrons in the process. They are dissipated equally in all the directions and some may travel into the earth’s atmosphere and when they react with charged particles, muons are produced. During this process a flash of blue light called Cherenkov radiation is produced. KM3NeT is designed to measure that radiation. There is no doubt that the device and its success relies heavily on luck.


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Then the question arises: Why should it be submerged in water? There are two reasons for this arrangement. First, in a water medium like Mediterranean Sea, the radiation is most visible. Second, the device is mainly to detect the extraterrestrial neutrons and not atmospheric neutrons. So to block out the atmospheric ones, the layer of water will act as a shield. There is more in store. This device has yet another application. It can act as a uner water observatory and help biologists listen to the whale songs and observe bioluminescent organisms found on the ocean floor.


You can get more details at the official website: #-Link-Snipped-#


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