First traces of particles observed in a prototype for an international experiment on neutrinos



[ad_1]

The detector records traces of particles in this argon, from both cosmic rays and a beam created in the CERN accelerator complex. Now that the first leads have been seen, scientists will be using the detector over the next few months to test the technology in depth.

"Only two years ago, we completed the new CERN building to house two large-scale prototype detectors that make up the building blocks of DUNE," said Marzio Nessi, responsible for the neutrino platform at CERN. "We now have the first detector taking good data and the second detector, which uses a different approach to liquid argon technology, will be online in a few months.

The first ProtoDUNE detector technology will be the same as that used for the first of the DUNE detection modules in the United States, which will be built 1.6 km underground at the Sanford underground research facility in South Dakota. . More than 1,000 scientists and engineers from 32 countries in five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America – work on the development, design and construction of DUNE detectors.

When the neutrinos enter the detectors and enter the argon nuclei, they produce charged particles. These particles leave traces of ionization in the liquid, as shown by sophisticated tracking systems capable of creating three-dimensional images of invisible subatomic processes.

DUNE will study not only neutrinos, but also their antimatter counterparts. Scientists will look for differences in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos, which could give us clues about the dominance of the visible universe by matter. DUNE will also seek to detect the neutrinos produced by the explosion of a star, which could reveal the formation of neutron stars and black holes, and will be interested in the question of whether the protons live forever or end up to deteriorate. The observation of the disintegration of the protons would bring us closer to the realization of Einstein's dream of a grand unified theory.

"DUNE is the future of neutrino research," said Nigel Lockyer, director of Fermilab. "Fermilab is pleased to welcome an international experience with such vast potential for new discoveries and to continue our long partnership with CERN on both the DUNE project and the Large Hadron Collider."

& # 39;)
ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK = ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK.join (" n");
[ad_2]
Source link