Neutrinos Help Answer Questions About Nuclear Fusion

            It is common knowledge that an atom is comprised of protons, electrons, and neutrons. These fundamental subatomic particles are what allow all matter to exist, so naturally questions regarding the nature of the subatomic particles arise. The complete answer about what makes up electrons, protons, and neutrons is still unknown. However, new research is helping shed light on a certain sub-subatomic particle, the neutrino.

During nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun, specifically the fusion of hydrogen atoms to helium, a relatively low energy neutrino is emitted. For the first time, scientists have detected these neutrinos in a facility called the Borexino detector, which is located in Italy.  This facility is housed underneath a kilometer of solid rock, and is filled with a core of 278 tons of an ultrapure benzene-like liquid that flashes when a neutrino hits it. The detection of these particles is a “landmark achievement”, according to a neutrino physicist at the University of California, Irvine Michael Smy. The discovery of low energy neutrinos from a proton-proton solar core reaction will help answer questions about the relative importance of certain reactions that take place during nuclear fusion.

http://www.nature.com/news/long-sought-neutrinos-answer-burning-question-about-the-sun-1.15779

Submitted by Andrew Delahunty