In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘lceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news:

1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter.
3. It is buried deep in the ice.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)        

Explanation:

• The IceCube Neutrino Observatory or simply IceCube is the first detector of its kind, designed to observe the cosmos from deep within the South Pole ice. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• Encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice, IceCube searches for nearly massless subatomic particles called neutrinos. Hence Statement 3 is correct.
• IceCube collaborators address several big questions in physics, like the nature of dark matter and the properties of the neutrino itself. Hence Statement 2 is correct.