The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) has faced numerous obstacles and delays.
If realized, it would become one of the largest basic science projects in India.
Nobel laureate and neutrino researcher Takaaki Kajita advocates for the INO, emphasizing its potential value.
Significance of Neutrinos:
Neutrinos are abundant particles that could help us understand the origin of matter in the universe.
Historic experiments in Kolar, Karnataka, led to the 1965 discovery of atmospheric neutrinos.
This discovery was a collaborative effort between Indian, Japanese, and British scientists.
Japan’s Advancements in Neutrino Research:
Japan continued neutrino experiments in the underground Kamioka Observatory under Mount Ikeno.
Masatoshi Koshiba’s team discovered cosmic neutrinos in the late 1980s.
Japan established the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory, began operations in 1996.
Koshiba won a Nobel Prize in 2002 for his contributions to neutrino research.
India’s Pursuit of Neutrino Research:
Following the closure of the Kolar goldmines in 1992, Indian scientists aimed to build a new observatory.
In 2011, the Indian government announced a budget of approximately Rs. 1,350 crores for the INO.
The proposed location for the INO is 1.3 km underground in Tamil Nadu.
Despite extensive plans, there has been no significant progress, and the project's fate remains uncertain.
Challenges and Opposition to INO:
Main opposition reasons include concerns about environmental impact and radioactivity.
INO scientists argue that the observatory would be located deep underground, minimizing impact on wildlife and the ecosystem.
They assure that the experiment will neither produce nor be affected by radioactivity.
Comparison with Japanese Experience:
The Japanese project faced less opposition, as the detector was constructed in an active mine, avoiding additional excavation.
The original Japanese experiment aimed to detect proton decay, not neutrinos, thus bypassing radiation concerns.
A supernova in 1987, observed while the Kamiokande-II detector was online, significantly boosted public interest in neutrinos.
Benefits of a Local Neutrino Observatory for India:
A domestic neutrino observatory would provide Indian scientists and particle physics students access to a world-class detector.
In the 1980s, young Japanese researchers benefited greatly from the Kamiokande project.
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