One possible explanation is that electron neutrinos are oscillating into muon neutrinos that cannot be detected by the other experiments – but this would require neutrinos to have a non-zero mass, which would have enormous implications for particle physics and cosmology. When a neutrino does interact with the heavy water in the tank, a flash of Cerenkov radiation is emitted and recorded by some of the 10000 photomultiplier tubes that surround the tank.Īstronomers hope that the observatory will help solve the solar neutrino problem – the fact that existing experiments detect less than half the flux of neutrinos from the Sun predicted by theory. This is why neutrino detectors need to be large and built underground – otherwise cosmic ray interactions will mimic the neutrino signal. Neutrinos travel at the speed of light and only interact very weakly with matter, which makes them very difficult to detect. The observatory, a joint project between Canada, US and UK, is a 1000-tonne tank of ultrapure heavy water located 2000 meters underground in a nickel mine in Ontario. This is one of the outstanding questions in physics. SNO will be the first detector capable of distinguishing between the three types of neutrino - electron, muon and tau neutrinos - and could finally resolve if these mysterious particles have mass or not. The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) in Canada was officially opened this week. Webinars Tune into online presentations that allow expert speakers to explain novel tools and applications.Video Watch our specially filmed videos to get a different slant on the latest science.Podcasts Our regular conversations with inspiring figures from the scientific community.Audio and video Explore the sights and sounds of the scientific world.Supercool physics Experiments that probe the exotic behaviour of matter at ultralow temperatures depend on the latest cryogenics technology.The science and business of space Explore the latest trends and opportunities associated with designing, building, launching and exploiting space-based technologies.Revolutions in computing Find out how scientists are exploiting digital technologies to understand online behaviour and drive research progress.Nanotechnology in action The challenges and opportunities of turning advances in nanotechnology into commercial products.#BlackInPhysics Celebrating Black physicists and revealing a more complete picture of what a physicist looks like.Artificial intelligence Explore the ways in which today’s world relies on AI, and ponder how this technology might shape the world of tomorrow.Collections Explore special collections that bring together our best content on trending topics.Innovation showcases A round-up of the latest innovation from our corporate partners.Projects and facilities Follow the latest progress at the world’s top scientific experiments.Policy and funding Understand how emerging policy changes could affect your work and career.Education and outreach Learn about novel approaches to educating and inspiring the scientists of the future.Business and innovation Find out how recent scientific breakthroughs are driving business innovation and commercial growth.Impact Explore the value of scientific research for industry, the economy and society.Personalities Find out who’s doing what in industry and academia.

Interviews Discover the views of leading figures in the scientific community.Opinion and reviews Find out whether you agree with our expert commentators.Careers Consider your career options with valuable advice and insightful case studies.People Meet the people behind the science.Events Plan the meetings and conferences you want to attend with our comprehensive events calendar.Blog Enjoy a more personal take on the key events in and around science.Analysis Discover the stories behind the headlines.Features Take a deeper look at the emerging trends and key issues within the global scientific community.News Stay informed about the latest developments that affect scientists in all parts of the world.Research updates Keep track of the most exciting research breakthroughs and technology innovations.Latest Explore all the latest news and information on Physics World.

Sudbury neutrino observatory