The detector, known as the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory, or JUNO, is located in China.
- The observatory is situated 700 meters underground.
- Most of the neutrino observatories are underground, as the physical bulk of the Earth’s crust helps block most other interfering particles, like muons (elementary subatomic particles similar to the electron).
- Main goals of the JUNO
- Mass Hierarchy: To determine the hierarchy of masses between the three neutrino types.
- The three neutrino types are Electron neutrino, Muon neutrino, and Tau neutrino, each linked to their respective particles.
- Oscillation Frequency: To measure the frequency of neutrino oscillation (how often the neutrino types shift, or change, from one type to another).
- Mass Hierarchy: To determine the hierarchy of masses between the three neutrino types.
About Neutrinos
- Nature: Subatomic particles (often called ghost particles) that have zero electrical charge, zero size and tiny mass.
- Occurrence: Second-most abundant particle after photons (particles of light) and most abundant among particles found in the universe.
- Detectability: Difficult to detect as they only interact with matter via weak nuclear force and gravity.
- Features: Undisturbed by even the strongest magnetic field, Travel in straight lines from their source, Travel at nearly the speed of light, etc.
Other Key Neutrino Observatories
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