Rabat – Moroccan scientists played a key role in a groundbreaking astrophysical feat, as the worldwide telescope KM3NeT detected a neutrino – an elementary particle – at an unprecedented level.
This feat, published in Nature, turns over a new leaf in high-energy astrophysics.
KM3NeT is a massive underwater observatory deep in the Mediterranean that operates through global cooperation, and Morocco is an active participant.
Professor Yahya Tayalati, the Moroccan national coordinator of the KM3NeT project, describes this discovery to Nature magazine as a milestone that illuminates new facets of research into extreme cosmic phenomena.
A professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat and an affiliated professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Benguerir (UM6P), Tayalati clarifies that KM3NeT consists of a network of deep-sea detectors that have been deployed 3,000 meters below the ocean surface.
The prime objective is to study neutrinos by capturing light that is generated as a consequence of their interaction with seawater.
The scientific community of Morocco is at the center of this 21-member collaboration, in which scientists from Rabat universities, Oujda, Marrakech, and Benguerir, as well as the National Center for Energy, Science, and Nuclear Techniques (CNESTEN), are involved.
KM3NeT spotted the neutrino, designated KM3-230213A, on February 13, 2023. With an energy of 220 PeV, ten thousand times more than the world’s most powerful particle collider can produce, the detection promises new avenues for learning about the universe’s most violent phenomena, from supernovae to supermassive black holes.
Since joining the project in 2016, Morocco has established two key construction sites for KM3NeT, the only ones outside Europe.
One, at the Rabat Faculty of Sciences, is focused on constructing optical modules that detect light trails left by neutrinos. The other, at the Oujda Faculty of Sciences, accommodates electronic parts to transmit data from these modules.
Tayalati considers Moroccan involvement as science involvement with more purpose. “This project strengthens our expertise and allows young researchers to work on cutting-edge technology,” he says.
He adds that this project is not only vital to Morocco’s technological progress, but also creates new opportunities for industries and researchers alike.
The discovery’s recent publication in Nature magazine only solidifies its significance. “We are proud to contribute to a breakthrough that will shape the future of particle astrophysics,” Tayalati announces.
Abdelilha Moussa, coordinator of the KM3NeT project at Mohammed I University in Oujda, deems this milestone proof that Moroccan scientists can lead important scientific missions.
He urges the need for long-term support to ensure that Morocco continues to play a role in groundbreaking discoveries and to provide young scientists with the tools to excel on the global stage.
