Installation of Underwater Telescopes to Detect ‘Ghost Particles’

Scientists are deploying two telescopes under the Mediterranean Sea to detect high-energy neutrinos, also called ghost particles.

What Are Neutrinos?

• Neutrinos are tiny particles similar to electrons but have no electric charge.
• They are one of the fundamental building blocks of the universe.
• Neutrinos were detected for the first time in 1959. 
• Neutrinos are the second most abundant subatomic particles in the universe, after photons.
  • They are incredibly numerous, with about 1 billion neutrinos passing through a single cubic centimetre of space every second.
  • They are known as “ghost particles” because they barely interact with anything.
• Sources of Neutrinos
  • Neutrinos are produced when heavy particles transform into lighter ones, a process called “decay.”

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• • These neutrinos originate from distant and exotic cosmic events like:
    • Supernovae
    • Gamma-ray bursts
    • Colliding stars
  • While neutrinos are abundant, scientists focus on rare, high-energy neutrinos traveling at incredible speeds.

Importance of Studying High-Energy Neutrinos

• Exploring Hidden Regions of Space
  • High-energy neutrinos can penetrate dusty regions in space, such as the centre of the Milky Way.
  • Unlike visible light, which is absorbed or scattered by dust, neutrinos pass through, revealing hidden cosmic mechanisms.
• Understanding Cosmic Rays and Dark Matter
  • They provide clues about how cosmic rays are produced.
  • They may also shed light on dark matter, one of the universe’s greatest mysteries.
• Unlocking New Discoveries
  • Studying neutrinos could lead to the discovery of unknown phenomena that scientists cannot yet imagine.

Challenges in Detecting Neutrinos

• Rare Interaction with Matter
  • Neutrinos barely interact with other particles, making them extremely hard to detect.
  • Despite billions of neutrinos passing through us every second, only one might interact with a human body in an entire lifetime.
• High-Energy Neutrinos Are Rare
  • High-energy neutrinos are uncommon and originate from rare cosmic events like supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
  • Even advanced observatories like IceCube, operational since 2011, have detected only a limited number of these particles.
• Need for Large Detection Volumes
  • Neutrino detection requires a huge volume of transparent material, such as ice or water, to observe the faint flashes of light they produce.
• Requirement for a Dark Environment
  • Detection relies on observing Cherenkov radiation, faint light flashes produced when neutrinos interact with water or ice molecules.
  • A dark environment is crucial to minimize interference from other light sources.
• Light Absorption and Scattering
  • Materials like ice and water affect light differently:
    • Ice scatters light more, making it harder to trace the exact source of neutrinos.
    • Water absorbs light more, reducing the amount available for analysis.

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