Efforts are currently underway in the Mediterranean Sea to install an underwater neutrino telescope known as KM3NeT, various sources have reported. The telescopes are designed to detect high-energy neutrinos, which are subatomic particles emitted from unidentified cosmic sources. Unlike traditional telescopes, these devices rely on capturing light resulting from the collision of neutrinos with seawater. This massive project extends over an area of one cubic kilometer of the Mediterranean Sea and involves the deployment of hundreds of detection leads. The work aims to reveal new insights about the universe.
Unique design and deployment challenges
According to For the experts, the KM3NeT consists of two distinct telescopes featuring glass globes, each equipped with photomultiplier tubes. Simone Biaggi, a physicist at the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics, told Science News that the telescopes are located several kilometers below the surface. Deployment involves hanging sensor cables, which resemble strings of pearls, each up to 700 meters long. They are lowered to the sea floor and then gradually released to spread in the water. The remotely operated submarine is used to make precise communications and inspect the setup.
Scientific objectives of the project
Sources indicate that one of the telescopes, stationed off the coast of Sicily, is designed to detect high-energy neutrinos coming from space. The second, off the coast of France, is dedicated to studying atmospheric neutrinos and their oscillations. These oscillations provide vital data on how neutrinos transform between different shapes, contributing to advances in particle physics.
Operational challenges at sea
Physicists working on this project face significant challenges, including harsh marine conditions and tight timelines. According to reports, the dissemination campaigns are carried out annually, and each lasts about a month. During this period, researchers work under tremendous pressure to ensure that all equipment works perfectly. Any errors must be corrected immediately, as post-publication edits are impossible.
Experts point out that the partially completed KM3NeT telescopes are already producing valuable scientific data, providing insights into the effects of quantum gravity and neutrino behaviors.
