Scientists have discovered the highest neutrino ever, a particle carrying more than 220 million electron energy, capturing an unprecedented glimpse of the extreme universe. This extraordinary discovery announced in nature today opens a new window for the most violent phenomenon in our universe.
On February 13, 2023, extraordinary particles were detected by the KM3NET Neutrini Telescope, a large array of detectors located in the depths of the Mediterranean. This extraordinary observation provides the first evidence that this enormous energy exists in nature.
“KM3NET has begun to detect a range of energy and sensitivity in which neutrinos may originate in extreme astrophysical phenomena,” said Paschal Coyle, a spokesman for KM3NET, in CNRS DE Gredique Debolique des des des des des des des des des des des de Marseille. “The first time ever discovery of neutrinos in hundreds of PEVs opens a new chapter in new observation windows in neutrino astronomy and the universe.”
Neutrinos are one of the most mysterious particles in physics. Although it is well known that although they rarely interact with matter, they are known to be difficult to detect despite being the second largest particle in the universe. This ghostly nature makes them precious cosmic messengers, carrying information from the farthest space without being deflected by magnetic fields or being absorbed by interstellar matter.
“Neutrites are one of the most mysterious neutrinos in the fundamental particles,” explained Rosa Coniglione, deputy spokesperson for KM3NET, and researchers at the INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, also explained. “They have no charge, have little mass, and interact only with matter. They are special cosmic messengers, bringing us unique information about the mechanisms involved in the most dynamic phenomena.”
Inspection requires an extraordinary instrument. KM3NET uses the Deep Mediterranean Sea as a detection medium, using thousands of sensitive photodetectors to observe the faint blue light generated by neutrinos when they interact with water molecules. Once completed, the detector will occupy multiple cubic kilometers of sea water.
What makes this discovery particularly striking is that it happens when one-tenth of the final detector is runtime. “This excellent detection is only one-tenth of the final configuration of the detector, demonstrating the immense potential of our experiments for neutrino research and neutrino astronomy,” Institute of Subprime Research.
The extreme energy of particles raises two interesting possibilities about their origin. It is probably directly produced by some of the most powerful cosmic accelerators in the universe, such as the supermassive black hole in the center of a galaxy. Additionally, this may be the first detection of “cosmic gene” neutrinos when ultra-high energy cosmic rays interact with background radiation that fill the universe.
The discovery highlights the significant technological achievements required by modern neutrino astronomy. “The scale of KM3NET ultimately covers a volume of about one cubic kilometer, a total of about 200,000 optoelectronic media, and its extreme location in the Mediterranean abyss, demonstrating the extraordinary efforts required to advance neutrino astronomy and particle physics,” notes Miles Lindsey Clark, Technical Program Manager and Research Engineer at CNRS Astroparticle and Cosmic Labs.
Although the source of this ultra-high energy neutrino remains unknown, its detection marks an important milestone in our ability to observe the most extreme events in the universe. The continued expansion of KM3NET will increase its sensitivity and improve its ability to pinpoint the origin of cosmic neutrinos, thus making it an important contribution to multi-door trader astronomy.
This discovery represents the collaboration of more than 360 scientists, engineers, technicians and students from 68 institutions in 21 countries. The project is considered a priority research infrastructure in Europe and has received funding through a variety of European research and innovation programs.
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