A compact neutrino detector has successfully identified the antinutrino at an atomic power plant, which marks a significant progress in particle physics. Unlike traditional detectors, which require large -scale infrastructure, this device weighs less than three kilograms. Regardless of its size, it effectively detects annutrino emitted from an atomic reactor in Libustad, Switzerland. The experiment, which lasted for 119 days, included a detector made of germanium crystal. About 400 antinutrinos were recorded, combining with theoretical predictions. Scientists believe that this achievement can lead to better tests of physics principles and potential applications in nuclear monitoring.
Study findings and expert insights
according to a Study On January 9, Arxiv was presented, the experiment depended on a specific interaction where neutrino and antinutrino atoms were scattered with atoms. This phenomenon, which was first seen in 2017, enables small detectors to function effectively. Kate Scolberg, a neutrino physicist at Duke University, told Science is reported that this achievement is important, as researchers have tried similar tricks for decades. He highlighted the simplicity of the conversation, compared to a gentle push rather than a complex nuclear reaction.
Christian Buck, a physicist of the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics and a study co-writer, told Science News that this development opens a new avenue in neutrino physics. He said that the clean nature of the conversation can help identify unseen particles or unexpected magnetic properties in neutrino.
Potential applications and challenges
Physicists suggest that such detectors may play a role in the supervision of nuclear reactors. Antinutrino’s detection ability can provide insight into reactor activity, including plutonium production, with implications for nuclear safety. However, challenges remain. Jonathan Link, a neutrino physicist from Virginia Tech, told Science News that it is still a difficult approach when technology is promising. The detector, regardless of its small size, requires preservation to eliminate the noise of the background, limit its portability.
This experiment also helps in clarifying previous findings. In 2022, a uniform claim of reactor antinutrino, a nucleus, was made a similar claim, but discrepancies with established principles caused controversy. Bak said that the new study fulfills the validity of those earlier results. With ongoing research, the area continues to develop, probably the particle is leading to further discoveries in physics.
