The world science community is abuzz with the news of Russian scientists launching one of the largest underwater neutrino telescopes. Dubbed the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector), it is nestled in the waters of Lake Baikal, which is renowned as the deepest lake globally, situated in Siberia. This mammoth project started its construction journey back in 2016, with the primary objective centered on a deeper inquiry into the elusive fundamental particles known as neutrinos, and possibly determining their sources.
About the Baikal-GVD Telescope
Listed among the three largest neutrino detectors globally, alongside IceCube at the South Pole and ANTARES in the Mediterranean Sea, the Baikal-GVD is purpose-built to catch high-energy neutrinos. These neutrinos are believed to originate from either Earth’s core or as a result of nuclear reactions in the Sun. The detector will significantly contribute to scientists’ understanding of the universe’s origins, given that neutrinos were formed during the Big Bang and continue to be formed following supernova explosions or due to nuclear reactions in the Sun.
Fundamental Particles: A closer look
The fabric of the universe consists of certain fundamental, indivisible particles. Scientists categorize these particles into quarks and leptons under normal matter, which constitutes around 5% of the known universe. Over 12 quarks and leptons have been discovered so far. Among these, protons, neutrons, and electrons form what is referred to as life’s building block – the atom. Protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutral) fall into the quark category, while electrons (negatively charged) are a type of lepton. Different combinations of these particles lead to various kinds of atoms, which subsequently make up molecules that form everything. From human beings and mobile phones to planets, the spectrum is infinite. Studying what constitutes humans and the world around them offers scientists a window into understanding the universe in a better way.
Understanding Neutrinos
Neutrinos (not to be confused with neutrons) are also a type of fundamental particle. They share the same family of leptons, and there are three types of neutrino, i.e., electron-neutrino, muon-neutrino, and tau-neutrino. Neutrinos are known as the second most abundant particles, trailing behind photons, which are particles of light. Despite their abundance, they are challenging to detect because they do not carry a charge, and as such, they do not interact with matter. Radioactive decay of primordial elements within the earth, radioactivity in the sun, cosmic interactions in the atmosphere among others serve as natural sources of neutrinos. One way of detecting neutrinos is in water or ice, where they leave a flash of light or a line of bubbles when they interact. To capture these signs, scientists need to build large detectors.
Big-Bang Model
The term “big-bang model” refers to a widely accepted theory explaining the universe’s evolution. The model posits that the universe emerged from a state of extremely high temperature and density – the so-called big bang that occurred 13.8 billion years ago.
Supernova Explained
A supernova is defined as a powerful and luminous stellar explosion. This astronomical event takes place during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or whenever a white dwarf triggers runaway nuclear fusion.
Diving into Quarks
A quark is a fundamental constituent of matter and stands defined as an elementary particle. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are neutrons and protons that make up atomic nuclei.
Unraveling Leptons
Leptons are a class of subatomic particles only responsive to electromagnetic force, weak force, and gravitational force. They remain unaffected by the strong force. Leptons are labeled as elementary particles and can either carry one unit of electric charge or be neutral.
Throughout this scientific journey, each discovery brings us closer to understanding the complex mysteries of the universe. As technology advances, so does our knowledge about these tiny yet significant particles that form the very fabric of existence.