新华鲜报|地下700米捕捉“幽灵粒子” 我国开启中微子研究新篇章

Core Insights - The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) has officially begun data collection as of August 26, 2023, after over ten years of construction, aiming to address significant questions in particle physics, particularly the mass ordering of neutrinos [1][3]. Group 1: Project Overview - The JUNO facility is located 700 meters underground in Jiangmen, Guangdong, featuring a large organic glass sphere with a diameter exceeding 35 meters designed to capture elusive neutrinos, often referred to as "ghost particles" [1][3]. - Neutrinos are fundamental particles that are abundant in the universe but interact very weakly with matter, making them difficult to detect. The first detection of neutrinos occurred in 1956, marking the beginning of their study in physics [3][5]. Group 2: Technological Features - The core detector of JUNO contains 20,000 tons of liquid scintillator housed within the organic glass sphere, equipped with tens of thousands of photomultiplier tubes to detect faint light signals produced by neutrino interactions [5]. - The construction of this high-precision detector involved significant challenges, including the successful filling of over 60,000 tons of ultra-pure water within 45 days, ensuring the stability and safety of the detector's structure [5]. Group 3: Research Goals and Collaborations - JUNO aims not only to determine the mass ordering of neutrinos but also to measure neutrino oscillation parameters with higher precision and explore various astrophysical phenomena, including supernovae and solar neutrinos [3][6]. - The project is led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with collaboration from approximately 700 researchers across 17 countries and regions, marking a significant international effort in neutrino research [5][6]. Group 4: Future Prospects - The JUNO facility is designed for a lifespan of 30 years, with potential upgrades to conduct experiments on neutrinoless double beta decay, which could provide insights into the absolute mass of neutrinos and their nature as Majorana particles [6].