The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) has entered its final construction phase, marking a significant milestone in global neutrino research. According to the Institute of High Energy Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the innermost acrylic sphere is fully assembled, and the outer stainless-steel grid and photomultiplier tubes are being seamlessly integrated. Completion of all installation tasks is expected by the end of November.
JUNO's primary scientific mission is to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy, a key question in particle physics. Additionally, the observatory will contribute to other cutting-edge research, positioning itself as a leading international center for neutrino studies upon completion.
Located approximately 700 meters underground, JUNO's core detector features the world's largest single acrylic sphere, a 20,000-tonne liquid scintillator for neutrino detection, and 45,000 photomultiplier tubes. The acrylic sphere is engineered to withstand a buoyant force of around 3,000 tonnes during long-term operations.
The development team has successfully overcome several technical challenges, including creating photomultiplier tubes with the highest photon detection efficiency globally. They have also pioneered a high-purity, high-seal, and high-efficiency purification system for the liquid scintillator, achieving the world's longest attenuation length to date.
Once operational, JUNO will stand alongside Japan's Super-Kamiokande and the United States' Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, solidifying China's leadership in the field of neutrino research.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
