Why in the news

• Researchers at the IceCube Observatory, buried beneath the Antarctic ice, have identified seven potential instances of elusive “Ghost Particles” or astrophysical Tau Neutrinos as they penetrated through Earth.
• These neutrinos are pivotal for understanding the cosmic exchanges between Earth and the vast universe.

What are Neutrinos?

• Neutrinos, often referred to as “ghost particles,” are subatomic particles characterized by their nearly zero mass and lack of electric charge.
• They traverse through matter with minimal interaction, making their detection extremely challenging.
• Previously believed to be massless, evidence has emerged indicating that neutrinos possess a very small mass.
• Neutrinos rank among the most abundant particles in the universe.
• While neutrinos and electrons behave similarly in terms of nuclear forces, neither of them engages in strong nuclear interactions.
• However, both participate in weak nuclear interactions.
• Neutrinos are produced during events such as nuclear fusion in stars like the Sun or nuclear fission in reactors.

Properties of Neutrinos

Significance of Neutrino Detection

• The origins of the abundant neutrino particles remain largely unknown to scientists.
• There’s a hypothesis suggesting their potential role in the early universe shortly after the Big Bang, yet concrete evidence remains elusive.
• Understanding neutrinos better holds the promise of unraveling numerous scientific phenomena, including the mysterious origins of cosmic rays, which neutrinos are known to carry.
• Researchers anticipate that pinpointing the source of neutrinos will aid in explaining the origins of cosmic rays, a puzzle that has perplexed scientists for centuries.

About IceCube Observatory

• Location: The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is situated near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.
• Components:

1. IceCube: The primary detector consists of 5,160 digital optical modules (DOMs) attached to vertical strings frozen into the ice.
2. IceTop: Located on top of IceCube strings, it serves as a veto and calibration detector for cosmic rays.
3. DeepCore: A denser subdetector within IceCube that lowers the neutrino energy threshold for studying neutrino oscillations.

• Construction:

1. Completed in December 2010 with 86 strings deployed over seven austral summers.
2. Involved melting holes in the ice to depths of 2,450 meters and deploying sensors connected to cables.

• Research Goals:

1. Observing neutrinos from various astrophysical sources to study cosmic phenomena like exploding stars, gamma-ray bursts, and black holes.
2. Studying cosmic rays interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere to reveal structures not fully understood.
3. Advancing neutrino astronomy and exploring high-energy processes in the Universe.

PYQs:

(1) In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at the South Pole, which was recently in the news: (2015)

1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter.
3. It is buried deep in the ice.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

(2) India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the planning commission as a mega-science project under the 11th Five-year plan. In this context, consider the following statements: (2010)

1. Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light.
2. Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta decay.
3. Neutrinos have a negligible, but non-zero mass.
4. Trillions of Neutrinos pass through the human body every second.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. 2, 3 and 4
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

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