Central Idea

Chinese scientists are constructing the world’s most extensive “ghost particle” detector, named the Tropical Deep-sea Neutrino Telescope (TRIDENT) in the South China Sea.

About TRIDENT Telescope

Scheduled for completion in 2030, TRIDENT, aptly nicknamed “Ocean Bell” or “Hai ling” in Chinese.
It will be positioned 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) beneath the ocean’s surface in the Western Pacific.
It seeks to explore the realm of neutrinos, transient particles that momentarily interact with the deep ocean, emitting faint flashes of light.

Pilot Phase (2026): TRIDENT will initiate a pilot project to fine-tune operations.
Full Deployment (2030): The complete detector will be operational, embarking on a quest to expand the frontiers of neutrino astronomy.

Optical Sensors and String Arrays: TRIDENT boasts over 24,000 optical sensors distributed across 1,211 strings, each extending 2,300 feet (700 meters) from the seabed. The detector’s arrangement follows a Penrose tiling pattern, covering a vast 4 km diameter.
Expansive Coverage: Once operational, TRIDENT will surveil neutrinos within an impressive 7.5 cubic km. In contrast, the world’s largest current neutrino detector, IceCube in Antarctica, encompasses a mere 1 cubic km.
Enhanced Sensitivity: TRIDENT’s extensive coverage significantly heightens its sensitivity, augmenting its prospects of detecting elusive neutrinos.

Electric Charge	Electrically neutral, carrying no charge.
Mass	Tiny mass, much smaller than electrons.
Interactions	Interact very weakly with matter.
Types	3 known types: Electron, Muon, and Tau neutrinos
Production Sources	Neutrinos are produced in various astrophysical processes, nuclear reactions, and particle interactions.
Detection	Detecting neutrinos is challenging due to their weak interactions. Specialized detectors like neutrino observatories are used.
Significance	Play a crucial role in astrophysics, contributing to our understanding of stars, supernovae, and cosmic rays. Neutrinos can change between different flavors, known as neutrino oscillation, which was a groundbreaking discovery.