What is Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope or KM3NeT

Project Overview:

• Scientists are deploying the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) under the Mediterranean Sea.
• It consists of two telescopes: one to study neutrinos from space and the other for atmospheric neutrinos.

Neutrinos Explained:

• Tiny, electrically neutral subatomic particles, second most abundant after photons.
• Predicted in 1931 by Wolfgang Pauli and detected in 1959.
• Rarely interact with matter, making them difficult to detect (“ghost particles”).

Importance of High-Energy Neutrinos:

• Originate from cosmic events like supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
• Can penetrate cosmic dust, providing insights into hidden regions of space, such as the Milky Way’s core.

Detection Mechanism:

• Cherenkov radiation: Light flashes produced when neutrinos interact with water or ice molecules.
• Detected by sensors to trace the neutrino’s origin and properties.

Advantages of Underwater Telescopes:

• Water scatters light less than ice, improving detection efficiency.
• KM3NeT’s underwater location offers dark and clear conditions for optimal neutrino observation.

Comparison with Ice Cube Observatory:

• KM3NeT operates in the sea, unlike Antarctica’s Ice Cube Observatory in ice.
• Both rely on Cherenkov radiation but differ in environmental conditions and light-scattering properties.

Significance:

• KM3NeT aims to enhance our understanding of cosmic phenomena and contribute to astrophysics by exploring high-energy neutrinos.

Reference: The Indian Express