The JUNO detector in China will incorporate a 35-meter sphere filled with scintillating liquid and thousands of sensors to study the most elusive particles
Particle physics is about to take a qualitative leap with the construction of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). This scientific complex, which will house the largest neutrino detectoris located 700 meters underground in China and will begin collecting data in summer 2025.
According to Science News, the heart of the detector is an impressive 35-meter-wide acrylic sphere that will contain 20,000 tons of a special liquid. This ingenious system, with its thousands of ultra-modern light sensorswill allow us to detect the flashes produced by antineutrinos when they interact with the liquid.
The scientific complex that will try to solve one of the greatest mysteries of the universe
The JUNO project represents an unprecedented advance in the research of neutrinos, tiny particles that barely interact with the matter around us. The facility will take advantage of its strategic location near two nuclear power plants, located about 50 kilometers away, to study the antineutrinos that they produce. This closeness is no coincidence, since nuclear power plants generate enormous quantities of these fundamental particles.
The construction of the observatory is progressing at a good pace, and on December 18, filling of the cylindrical tank that will surround the main sphere began. This water tank fulfills an essential function: acting as a filter to eliminate other particles that could interfere with measurements. The innovative filter technology It is essential to achieve the objectives of the experiment.
Among the main goals of the project stands out determine which of the three types of neutrinos has the greatest massa fact that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. This is not the only effort underway to unravel the secrets of these particles, as demonstrated by the DUNE project, an international collaboration of more than 30 countries that also seeks answers about our origins.
The unique nature of neutrinos, particles with no electrical charge and a tiny mass, has made them one of the greatest enigmas of modern physics. Their ability to pass through matter almost without leaving a trace has led many to call them ghost particlesa nickname that has inspired the development of sophisticated detectors specially designed to capture them.
The JUNO observatory marks a before and after in the history of particle physics. Its colossal dimensions and its unprecedented cutting-edge technology make it a unique tool for solving some of the deepest mysteries of the cosmos. The combination of its underground location, the use of ultrapure materials and its cutting-edge detection systems promise results that could transform our understanding of the universe and its most basic components.
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