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“ICE FISHING FOR NEUTRINOS” AT THE SOUTH POLE TOPIC FOR ASTRONOMY DAY

JAMESTOWN -Dr. Francis Halzen, director of the Institute for Elementary Particle Physics Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be featured speaker for the Cline Observatory Astronomy Day Lecture at Guilford Technical Community College's Jamestown campus at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Sept. 30).

The event, which is open to the public free of charge, will be held in the auditorium of the Koury Hospitality Careers Center.
The Cline Observatory Astronomy Day Lecture is held each fall, featuring a prominent researcher in astronomy, astrophysics, or planetary science. 

Halzen directs the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole.  His talk, titled "Ice Fishing for Neutrons" will discuss the challenges of doing science in Antarctica, and the secrets of the universe his unique observatory is unlocking.  
Halzen, who is the Hilldale and Gregory Breit Distinguished professor at the universe, gives details about his topic:  "We have melted 87 holes over 1.5 miles deep in the Antarctic icecap to be used as astronomical observatories. Into each hole is lowered a string knotted with basketball-sized light detectors which are sensitive to the shimmering blue light emitted in the surrounding clear ice when ghostly particles called neutrinos pass through the Earth.

"These neutrinos are cosmic messengers from the most violent processes in the university, for example, giant black holes gobbling up stars in the heart of quasars and gamma-ray bursts which are the biggest explosions since the Big Bang.
Neutrinos will tell us if there are dark matter particles trapped in the heart of the Sun, and perhaps, even reveal if there are additional dimensions in space. We will discuss the first science emerging from early data."

Following the lecture, a viewing session - weather permitting, will be held at the Cline Observatory. The observatory is open for viewing every clear Friday night.

More information about the Cline Observatory and its programs is available at www.gtcc.edu/observatory or by contacting Tom English at trenglish@gtc.edu or at 334-4822, Ext. 50023.

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Contact: RoBurchette@gtcc.edu (Released 9/23/11)