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Chinese project transforms the deep ocean into a scientific platform to detect nearly invisible particles from space, combining submarine engineering, particle physics, and astronomical observation in a structure planned to operate continuously at 3,500 meters deep.
China has completed new deep-water tests to advance the deployment of TRIDENT, a submarine neutrino telescope led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a structure designed to operate at 3,500 meters deep and investigate signals associated with the Universe’s most extreme phenomena.
In the first phase, the observatory is expected to receive 10 detection lines, each approximately 700 meters high, forming a system aimed at identifying high-energy neutrinos, subatomic particles that pass through almost all matter without interacting easily.
Precisely because they traverse the planet virtually unimpeded, neutrinos are considered difficult to detect, although they are also valuable for modern astronomy as they carry information about violent events and remote regions of the cosmos.
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Deep-sea tests validate the installation of the submarine observatory
During the most recent campaign, researchers evaluated equipment considered essential for the observatory’s installation, including the SPIDER system, responsible for launching submarine instruments, as well as acoustic positioning technologies and connectors prepared to operate under extreme pressure.
In one of the trials conducted on the seabed, SPIDER performed a landing test at 3,500 meters deep and underwent verification of coordinated movement with a dynamic positioning vessel, a step deemed necessary to reduce risks during deployment.
As the observatory is expected to operate in a low-temperature, high-pressure, and limited logistical access environment, any failure in sensors, connectors, or cables could compromise the structure’s stability and directly affect the continuity of scientific operations.
How TRIDENT aims to detect neutrinos on the ocean floor
Unlike traditional telescopes pointed directly at the sky, TRIDENT was conceived to observe the Universe by “looking down,” a strategy that uses Earth itself as a natural filter to block common particles and highlight neutrinos coming from the other side of the planet.
When one of these particles rarely interacts with seawater, the process can generate secondary particles capable of emitting extremely faint light signals, recorded by optical modules responsible for estimating the direction and energy of the detected event.
Furthermore, choosing a region near the equator expands sky coverage over time, as Earth’s rotation allows the observatory to examine different directions and complement the work of detectors installed in other parts of the world.
Project structure foresees 1,200 detection lines
Even though initially focused on only 10 detection lines, TRIDENT’s complete proposal foresees a much broader structure, formed by approximately 1,200 vertical cables equipped with about 20 hybrid optical modules distributed along each line.
According to the conceptual design presented by the Chinese team, the observatory is designed to monitor approximately 8 cubic kilometers of seawater for two decades, occupying an extensive submarine area and forming one of the largest neutrino detectors ever planned.
Known as hDOMs, the hybrid modules concentrate high-sensitivity sensors capable of capturing light signals at extremely low levels, a characteristic considered fundamental for reconstructing rare events produced by the passage of neutrinos through matter.
Chosen region offers stability and water transparency
Located in the South China Sea, off Hainan, the area chosen to host the observatory lies on an abyssal plain considered suitable for prolonged deep-water scientific operations, according to surveys conducted by the project team itself.
The studies indicated conditions deemed favorable for neutrino detection, including a relatively stable seabed, moderate currents, and optical properties compatible with observing extremely faint light signals produced by the rare interactions of these particles.
According to measurements released by researchers, the average light absorption and scattering lengths reached approximately 27 meters and 63 meters, respectively, a performance considered important for reconstructing trajectories and estimating energy with greater precision.
Parallel to the installation of the detectors, the program maintains a continuous environmental monitoring network on the seabed, tracking parameters such as temperature, salinity, ocean currents, acoustic noise, natural radioactivity, and the luminosity of the deep environment.
China expands scientific dispute over neutrino observatories
TRIDENT began to gain visibility after reconnaissance missions and environmental measurements carried out in recent years, while the first phase of the program was officially launched in 2022 with a focus on validating equipment and operational parameters.
Technical presentations subsequently released indicated the continuation of deep-sea tests and the advancement of planning for the expansion of the array, consolidating the project as one of China’s main initiatives aimed at neutrino astronomy.
With this structure, China is now competing for space in an area dominated by detectors such as IceCube, installed in the Antarctic ice, as well as submarine projects located in the Mediterranean and dedicated to observing high-energy particles.
The Chinese proposal relies on permanent infrastructure installed on the ocean floor to transform a region 3,500 meters deep into a continuous scientific platform, while the most recent tests indicate that deployment and positioning systems have already advanced to decisive stages.
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