Solar Neutrino Event, Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

A computer simulation depicts a solar neutrino event at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. A neutrino captured by a deuterium nucleus produces an energetic electron, which in turn generates Cerenkov light. This light is viewed by an array of nearly 10,000 photomultiplier tubes, placed in a geodesic support structure. The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) is a neutrino observatory located 6,800 feet underground in Vale Inco's Creighton Mine in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The detector was designed to detect solar neutrinos through their interactions with a large tank of heavy water. It consists of a 59 foot (diameter) stainless steel geodesic sphere inside of which is an acrylic vessel filled with 1000 tons of heavy water (deuterium oxide or D2O). Attached to the sphere are 9,522 ultra-sensitive light-sensors called photomultiplier tubes. When neutrinos passing through the heavy water interact with deuterium nuclei, flashes of light, called Cerenkov radiation, are emitted. The photomultiplier tubes detect these light flashes and convert them into electronic signals that scientists can analyze for the presence of all three types of neutrinos. The detector was turned on in May 1999, and was turned off on November 28, 2006. While new data is no longer being taken, the SNO collaboration will continue to analyze the data taken during that period for the next several years.

Credit
Science Source / LBNL/Science Source

Dimensions
3545 x 3600 pixels

Print Size @ 300 dpi
12 x 12 inches / 30 x 30 cm

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