China has completed the construction of the world’s largest transparent spherical detector, 700 meters beneath the Earth’s surface. The neutrino detector, designed to capture these elusive particles known for their extraordinary penetrative power at low energies, is a groundbreaking achievement in physics.

The enormous acrylic sphere stands as tall as a 12-story building, with a diameter of 35.4 meters. It is located within a granite layer in Kaiping, a county-level city in Guangdong Province, southern China. This is reported by
Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

The project, initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangdong provincial authorities, began construction in 2015. The installation of the detector is expected to be completed by the end of November, with full operational status slated for August 2025.

As one of the most powerful neutrino research facilities in the world, the Jiangmen Neutrino Observatory is set to operate for at least 30 years. The detector’s energy resolution will reach an unprecedented level of 3 per cent, making it one of the most precise instruments for neutrino research globally.

The primary purpose of the observatory is to help scientists better understand neutrino mass hierarchy, a key factor in studying the universe’s physical models and its evolution. Additionally, the facility will allow physicists to conduct cutting-edge research, including observing atmospheric and solar neutrinos.

Photo: Xinhua/Deng Hua