Correct Answer : China
China is embarking on a groundbreaking endeavor by constructing an immense telescope in the western Pacific Ocean. The primary mission of this massive facility is to detect elusive particles known as “ghost particles” or neutrinos. This ambitious undertaking will result in the world’s largest neutrino-detecting telescope.
Unveiling the Elusive Neutrino : Neutrinos are a type of electron but, like neutrons, they do not have any charge. They are among the most abundant particles in our universe. With trillions of neutrinos passing through at any given second, they are also among the tiniest. Neutrinos were long believed to be massless, until scientists found evidence that they do have a very small mass.
The Race for Neutrino Detection : At present, the most extensive neutrino-detecting telescope is the “IceCube” at the University of Madison-Wisconsin, nestled deep in the Antarctic. It consists of sensors dispersed throughout a cubic kilometer of ice. However, China is taking this pursuit to an entirely new level with its forthcoming telescope, aptly named “Trident.”
A Game-Changer in Neutrino Research : Situated in the South China Sea, this monumental apparatus, Trident, is projected to span a staggering 7.5 cubic kilometers. Scientists assert that the sheer size of this telescope will enable it to detect a greater number of neutrinos, making it “10,000 times more sensitive” than any existing underwater telescopes. Construction of the Trident telescope is already underway and is slated for completion within this decade, representing an extraordinary leap in neutrino research capabilities.
The Deep-Sea Marvel ‘Ocean Bell’ in the Western Pacific : Set to be finished by 2030, TRIDENT, affectionately known as ‘Ocean Bell‘ or ‘Hai ling‘ in Chinese, will be situated at a depth of 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) beneath the Western Pacific Ocean’s surface.
Revolutionizing Neutrino Detection with 24,000 Sensors and 1,211 String Arrays : Featuring over 24,000 optical sensors distributed across 1,211 strings, each extending 2,300 feet (700 meters) from the ocean floor. The arrangement of detectors adheres to a Penrose tiling pattern, spanning a substantial 4 km diameter.
The Significance of Neutrinos : Understanding neutrinos carries immense significance because they hold the potential to unravel one of the cosmos’s most perplexing mysteries: the origins of cosmic rays. These high-energy particles that zip through space at nearly the speed of light have confounded scientists for decades. Neutrinos, thanks to their unique properties and their interactions with water, offer a promising avenue for gaining insights into the enigmatic sources and mechanisms behind cosmic rays.
