Vietnamese Scientists Engage in World's Largest Universe Research Experiments

A team of Vietnamese scientists is participating in world-leading international scientific research projects aimed at understanding the origin and evolution of the universe, as well as the fundamental mysteries of matter. The team from the Institute of Physics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, is involved in the cutting-edge particle physics experiments "Belle-II" and "T2K" conducted in Japan. The project, running from 2024 to 2026, is being carried out in collaboration with over 1,000 international scientists, under the leadership of Dr. Nguyễn Anh Kỳ. The Belle-II experiment utilizes the SuperKEKB accelerator to study the interactions between electrons and their antiparticles, positrons. Meanwhile, the T2K experiment employs the J-PARC accelerator and the Super-Kamiokande detector to explore the properties of neutrinos, fundamental particles with nearly zero mass that can penetrate matter without leaving a trace. Dr. Nguyễn Anh Kỳ emphasizes that these experiments are crucial for deepening the understanding of the deepest properties of matter and the origin and evolution of the universe. While Vietnam's participation previously focused on learning and data analysis support, scientists are now directly undertaking key technical roles in the experiments. In the Belle-II experiment, the Vietnamese team contributed to the construction, installation, testing, and calibration of the Central Drift Chamber (CDC), a core component of the detector system. The CDC is responsible for accurately recording the trajectories and kinetic energies of charged particles generated from collisions. This experiment aims to answer fundamental physics questions, such as why matter and antimatter did not annihilate each other after the Big Bang, leaving enough matter to form the current universe. For the T2K experiment, the Vietnamese team is responsible for the "source" part of neutrino generation, monitoring the direction and interactions of neutrinos immediately after their creation. This data is essential for the detector, located 295 km away, to predict the number of neutrinos and their transformations along the path. Participation in these advanced experiments is expected to significantly enhance Vietnam's scientific and technological capabilities. Dr. Nguyễn Anh Kỳ points out that such long-term international collaborations require a continuous support mechanism of approximately five years per phase, enabling the formulation of long-term scientific plans and the development of fundamental research teams. Professor Nguyễn Quang Liêm from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology praised the international collaboration project for exceeding its initial objectives and highlighted the integration of Vietnamese scientists into the world's most advanced physics experiments. He stressed the importance of continued investment and support for new physics research to lay the foundation for the country's future scientific and technological development. Source: VnExpress