A New Window on the Universe

Although we are unaware of it, every second, trillions of tiny particles from space pass through each of us. Known as neutrinos, they have zero electric charge and extremely small masses, features which mean that they very rarely interact with any matter that they encounter. In fact, most neutrinos leave no trace at all and are able to pass right through us, and even right through the Earth.

This ‘invisibility’ actually means that neutrinos are very important in a number of areas of physics and cosmology. Because they do not interact often with matter, they can travel unaltered in straight lines through vast distances across the universe, and can therefore provide valuable information about other galaxies. Neutrinos may also hold the key to other mysterious phenomena in cosmology and particle physics, such as the nature of dark matter, and black holes.

This invisibility, however, also means that they can be extremely difficult to detect. The trick is to use a huge detector, a cubic kilometre in size, and what better than to use the pristine ice of Antarctica?  A new Marsden grant will take a team led by Dr Jenni Adams and Dr Suruj Seunarine from the University of Canterbury to the Frozen Continent where, as part of large group from several countries, they will create a new neutrino ‘telescope’, buried deep in the ice below the South Pole.

Nicknamed ‘IceCube’, the telescope will be constructed by embedding many sensors into the large volume of clear ice that lies deep within Antarctica. This is the perfect place to look for the very faint flashes of light that are generated when neutrinos do, occasionally, interact with our planet.

The project will take several years to complete, but could one day help to answer some of the long-standing mysteries about our universe.

Total Funding:    $720,000
Researchers:    Dr Jenni Adams, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
Dr Surujhdeo Seunarine, University of Canterbury