Water Cherenkov detector

A Water Cherenkov detector is a device that uses large tanks of ultra-pure water to detect high-energy particles, like those from cosmic rays or neutrinos. When these particles pass through water at speeds faster than light does in water (not in vacuum), they emit a faint blue glow called Cherenkov radiation. Sensitive instruments around the tank capture this light, allowing scientists to analyze the particles’ properties and origins. This technique helps us study fundamental questions about the universe, including the behavior of elusive particles like neutrinos.