A prototype of the Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector for studying neutrinos, which will come up at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), proposed at Pottipuram in Theni district, is being set up at the project’s facility in Vadapalanji near Madurai.
V.M. Datar, Project Director, INO, who visited the facility on Thursday, said the setting up of the prototype was likely to be competed in two months.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said while the ICAL to be set up in the underground laboratory at Pottipuram will have 50,000 tonnes of magnetized iron plates, the prototype will be of 80 tonnes in size.
He said the prototype would mainly serve two objectives: it will provide hands-on experience to scientists to experiment and identify challenges in design (if any) before the actual work begins at Theni and would help in clearing many misconceptions about the project. “The public, particularly students, can see the prototype and understand how the detector works. Apart from triggering their interest, it will show them that the project has nothing to do with radiation,” he said.
Stephen Inbanathan, Head, Department of Applied Science at The American College, and a collaborator with the INO project, said there were also plans to bring people of Pottipuram, the project site, to show them the prototype.
On the reports last year that the project was likely to be shifted out of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Datar said that for now the team was focussing on getting the project in Theni.
“As per National Green Tribunal orders, we have already applied for Environmental Clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and also clearance under the Wildlife Protection Act (from National Board for Wildlife). We are hoping for clearances soon,” he said.
Dr. Datar indicated that there will also be efforts to demystify misconceptions about the project so as to win public cooperation.
