Optical Cherenkov detector

An Optical Cherenkov detector is a device used to observe high-energy particles, like cosmic rays, as they travel through a transparent medium such as water or ice. When these particles move faster than the speed of light in that medium, they produce a faint, blue light known as Cherenkov radiation. The detector captures this light with sensitive instruments, allowing scientists to study the particles' properties and origins. This method helps in understanding phenomena in astrophysics and particle physics, revealing details about the universe's most energetic events.