KM3NeT Telescope Detects Most Energetic Cosmic Neutrino Yet

KM3NeT Telescope Detects Most Energetic Cosmic Neutrino Yet

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Called KM3-230213A, the newly-detected neutrino brought an impressive energy of 220 peta-electronvolts (PeV), making it among the most effective primary particles ever found. Its energy was approximately a 100 million billion times the energy of noticeable light photons and about 30 times the greatest neutrino energy formerly discovered.

Visual impression of the ultra-high energy neutrino occasion observed in KM3NeT/ARCA. Image credit: KM3NeT.

Cosmic neutrinos might be produced either in the area of the cosmic-ray source or along the cosmic-ray proliferation course, causing the production of secondary unsteady particles, which consequently decay into neutrinos.

Cosmic rays communicating in the Earth’s environment produce climatic neutrinos, which form a speculative background to cosmic neutrinos.

To discover cosmic neutrinos, very-large-volume neutrino observatories keep track of natural bodies of water or ice for the Cherenkov light caused by the passage of the charged particles that arise from neutrino interactions in or near the detector.

“High-energy neutrinos like this are incredibly unusual, making this a huge discovery,” stated Western Sydney University’s Professor Miroslav Filipovic.

“The discovery represents the most energetic neutrino ever observed, and supplies proof that neutrinos of such high energies are produced in deep space.”

“Detecting such a remarkable particle brings us closer to comprehending the most effective forces forming our Universe.”

The detection of KM3-230213A was enabled through the innovative abilities of the KM3NeT telescope, which utilizes photomultiplier tubes to catch light from charged particles created when the neutrino communicates with the detector.

“The KM3NeT research study facilities makes up 2 detector ranges of optical sensing units deep in the Mediterranean Sea,” the physicists stated.

“The ARCA detector lies offshore Portopalo di Capo Passero, Sicily, Italy, at a depth of about 3,450 m and linked by ways of an electro-optical cable television to the coast station of the INFN, Laboratori Nazionali del Sud.”

“The geometry of ARCA is enhanced for the research study of high-energy cosmic neutrinos.”

“The ORCA detector lies at a depth of about 2,450 m, overseas Toulon, France, and is enhanced for the research study of neutrino oscillations.”

“Both detectors are under building however currently functional.”

The KM3-230213A occasion tape-recorded over 28,000 photons of light, providing a clear trajectory and engaging proof recommending the particle’s cosmic origin.

“KM3NeT can rebuild the neutrino’s trajectory and energy,” stated Dr. Luke Barnes, likewise of Western Sydney University.

“It takes severe cosmic conditions to produce such a neutrino, like a blowing up star or supermassive great void.”

“That’s where our deal with following up with radio telescopes, like the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, can assist to open their tricks.”

The scientists concluded that based upon a single neutrino, it is hard to definitively identify its origin.

Future observations will concentrate on finding more such occasions to develop a clearer image of their origins and the astrophysical procedures behind them.

“The energy of the KM3-230213A occasion is much bigger than that of any neutrino found up until now,” the researchers stated.

“This recommends that the neutrino might have come from a various cosmic accelerator than the lower-energy neutrinos, or this might be the very first detection of a cosmogenic neutrino, arising from the interactions of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with background photons in deep space.”

The group’s paper was released in the February 12 problem of the journal Nature

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The KM3NeT Collaboration. 2025. Observation of an ultra-high-energy cosmic neutrino with KM3NeT. Nature 638, 376-382; doi: 10.1038/ s41586-024-08543-1

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