UPSC | Prelims GS | 2026

Why is IceCube in Antarctica suitable for detecting high-energy neutrinos?

  1. It uses a vast volume of Antarctic ice and sensors to detect rare interactions of neutrinos with matter
  2. It tracks neutrinos through their electric charge using radio antennas
  3. It captures neutrinos because they are strongly absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere
  4. It detects only charged cosmic-ray protons after magnetic deflection

Answer

Correct Answer

It uses a vast volume of Antarctic ice and sensors to detect rare interactions of neutrinos with matter

Explanation

A is correct: neutrinos interact very rarely, so IceCube uses enormous ice volume instrumented with sensors to record secondary signals. B is wrong because neutrinos have no electric charge. C is wrong because they pass through the atmosphere with little interaction. D concerns charged cosmic rays, not the neutrino-detection method.

Topics: astroparticle physics, icecube antarctic observatory, neutrino astronomy, science and technology