detection of neutrinos

Neutrino detection involves capturing rare interactions when neutrinos, which are tiny, nearly massless particles passing through space, interact with atoms in a special detector. These detectors often contain large amounts of water or ice—like underground tanks or deep ice sheets—to provide a target for neutrinos. When a neutrino occasionally collides with an atom, it produces a charged particle that moves faster than light in that medium, creating a faint flash of light called Cherenkov radiation. Sensitive instruments then detect this light, allowing scientists to infer the neutrino’s presence, direction, and energy.