Moroccan scientists help detect record-energy Neutrino in Mediterranean

Moroccan scientists contributed to a major breakthrough in astrophysics when the international KM3NeT telescope detected a neutrino with an unprecedented energy level in the Mediterranean Sea two years ago. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, is a significant advancement in high-energy astrophysics.

On February 13, 2023, a groundbreaking achievement in astrophysics was recorded with the detection of a neutrino possessing an extraordinary energy level of approximately 220 petaelectronvolts (PeV). This significant discovery was made by the KM3NeT underwater telescope, situated 3,000 meters deep in the Mediterranean Sea, as explained to MAP by Prof. Yahya Tayalati, the national coordinator of the KM3NeT project in Morocco and a professor at Mohammed V University of Rabat, also affiliated with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Benguerir (UM6P).

This discovery unveils new opportunities for understanding extreme astrophysical phenomena such as supermassive black holes and supernovas. Neutrinos, which are extremely light and neutral elementary particles, interact very weakly with matter, making them notoriously challenging to detect. These particles are generated during violent cosmic events and can traverse vast cosmic distances unaltered, serving as invaluable messengers for studying extreme astrophysical phenomena.

The KM3NeT telescope represents an international research infrastructure, comprising a network of underwater detectors strategically distributed across two key sites in the Mediterranean: ARCA, focused on high-energy astronomy off the coast of Sicily, and ORCA, specializing in low-energy studies near Toulon. These detectors capture the light emitted during neutrino interactions with seawater, facilitating their detection and study.

Morocco has been a pivotal contributor to this international collaboration since 2016. The Moroccan consortium includes Mohammed V University of Rabat, Mohammed I University of Oujda, Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech, and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Benguerir, with the National Center for Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN) participating as an observer member.

The Kingdom has established two construction sites for KM3NeT, the only ones outside Europe: one at the College of Sciences of Rabat, focusing on integrating digital optical modules to detect neutrinos’ luminous trails, and another at the College of Sciences of Oujda, dedicated to integrating electronics for communication with these modules.

This active involvement underscores Morocco’s commitment to advanced scientific research and provides opportunities for transferring cutting-edge technologies to the country, thereby enhancing the skills of Moroccan researchers and opening new avenues for young scientists.