India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) to be build up in Tamil Nadu 15/07/2019 – Posted in: Press Information Bureau
India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)
(Department of Atomic Energy)
WHAT
The government has approved a project to build the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at Pottipuram in the Theni District of Tamil Nadu.
The project aims to set up a 51000 ton Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector to observe naturally occurring atmospheric neutrinos.
India-based NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY
- INO project is aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory for non-accelerator based high energy and nuclear physics research in India.
- The India-based Neutrino Observatory will be encompassed by at least a kilometer of rock on all sider to shield against other radiation that could swamp the detector.
- The INO project does not disturb the ecosystem, as it does not have any radioactive substance. It measures cosmic rays.
- There is no other neutrino detector anywhere in India at present.
- ICAL at INO would be the first of its type.
The Project includes:
- Construction of an underground laboratory
- Construction of an Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector for studying neutrinos
- Setting up of National Centre for High Energy Physics at Madurai, for the operation and maintenance of the underground laboratory, human resource development and detector R&D along with its applications.
NEUTRINO
- Neutrinos are fundamental particles belonging to the lepton family.
- They come in three flavours, one associated with electrons and the others with their heavier cousins the muon and the Tau.
- According to the standard model of particle physics, these charge-neutral fundamental particles, have a limited but little mass which is obscure.
- Determination of neutrino masses and mixing parameters is one of the most significant open problems in physics today.
- The ICAL detector is designed to address some of these key open problems in a unique way.
WHERE ARE NEUTRINOS PRODUCED?
- Neutrinos are abundantly found in nature.
- The Sun, the stars and the atmosphere produce millions of neutrinos every second.
- Most of these neutrinos pass through our body and we do not realize it.
- They can even pass through the earth and come out on the other side.
HOW DO ICAL MEASURE NEUTRINO OSCILLATIONS?
Source: PIB
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