About India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO):
Location | INO Peak near Theni, Tamil Nadu, India |
Objective | Study atmospheric neutrinos and provide precise measurements of neutrino mixing parameters |
Project Scope | One of the largest experimental particle physics projects in India |
Initial Completion Date | Originally planned for 2015 |
Key Equipment |
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Research Goals |
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Historical Discussions | Initial discussions in 1989, formal collaboration in 2001, and MoU signed in 2002 |
Current Status | Construction stalled as of July 2021 due to local opposition and environmental concerns; ongoing legal and governmental deliberations |
All About Neutrinos
Definition | Neutrinos, often referred to as “ghost particles,” are subatomic particles with nearly zero mass and no electric charge. |
Detection Challenge | They traverse through matter with minimal interaction, making their detection extremely challenging. |
Mass | Previously believed to be massless, evidence indicates that neutrinos possess a very small mass. |
Abundance | Neutrinos are among the most abundant particles in the universe. |
Behaviour | Similar to electrons in terms of nuclear forces; both participate in weak nuclear interactions but not in strong nuclear interactions. |
Production | Produced during nuclear fusion in stars (e.g., the Sun) and nuclear fission in reactors. |
Properties |
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Why “Ghost Particles”? |
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