The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) in China is getting closer to a major milestone with the nearing completion of the world’s largest acrylic sphere. This massive structure will play a crucial role in capturing and analyzing neutrinos, subatomic particles that hold mysteries about the universe.
The sphere has been constructed from 263 large spherical panels
The acrylic sphere boasts an impressive diameter of 35.4 meters, dwarfing the previous record holder of 12 meters. Donchamp (Jiangsu) Material Technology Co Ltd., based in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, is responsible for developing and manufacturing this giant sphere.
The sphere is a marvel of engineering, meticulously constructed from 263 large spherical panels, each 12 centimeters thick. A team of 50 workers from Donchamp is currently finalizing the installation process, aiming for completion by the end of July.
The JUNO observatory itself resides 700 meters underground in Jiangmen, Guangdong province. This deep location shields the experiment from background radiation, allowing for more precise detection of neutrinos.
Once operational, JUNO will utilize the acrylic sphere to contain 20,000 metric tons of liquid scintillator. This special liquid will emit light when struck by neutrinos, allowing the observatory’s 45,000 photomultiplier tubes to detect and record these elusive particles.
By studying neutrinos, scientists hope to gain a deeper understanding of the universe’s evolution, the nature of dark matter, and the processes that power exploding stars, supernovas. With the completion of the giant acrylic sphere, JUNO is poised to become a leading facility in the field of neutrino research.
(Via)
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