Prepare to be amazed as physicists finalize the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory, known as JUNO. This groundbreaking project aims to unravel the mysteries of neutrinos, incredibly light subatomic particles with no charge, and their counterparts, antineutrinos.
Deep underground in China lies the core of this detector – a massive 35-meter-wide acrylic sphere filled with 20,000 metric tons of liquid scintillator. When an antineutrino collides with a proton in the liquid, it produces particles that emit light. Countless photomultiplier tubes will observe these glimmers induced by antineutrinos. Surrounding the sphere is water in a cylindrical pit to eliminate non-antineutrino particles that may mimic them. The process of filling this pit with water began on December 18.
Once operational, JUNO will closely examine antineutrinos emitted from two nearby nuclear power plants located approximately 50 kilometers away.
If you’re curious to witness JUNO’s progress through captivating photos, take a look at the slideshow below.
2025-01-03 09:30:00
Originally published on www.sciencenews.org