India based Neutrino Observatory

India based Neutrino Observatory

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Achievements of Indians in Sci & Technology 

In news

• An India based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is going to be set up in Bodi West Hills, in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.
• Funded by: Dept. of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Dept. of Science and Technology (DST).

Key takeaways

• Objective: To observe neutrinos and antineutrinos produced in the atmosphere of the Earth.
• Features: The project includes: (1) Underground laboratory and associated surface facilities at Bodi West Hills; (2) Construction of a magnetized Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector for studying neutrinos.
• Advantages: (1) This observation will tell us more about the properties of neutrino particles; (2) This will also help in developing a model of physics beyond the so-called Standard Model of Particle Physics; (3) It would also have a great impact on diverse fields such as nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, medical imaging etc.

Do you know?

• INO Project is a multi-institutional effort aimed at building a world-class underground laboratory with a rock cover of approx. 1200 m for non-accelerator based high energy and nuclear physics research in India.
• National Neutrino Collaboration group (NNCG) includes more than 50 scientists from about 15 Institutes and Universities in India.
• It is tasked with detailing various aspects related to INO activity and to come up with a proposal for an underground neutrino laboratory.