‘Neutrino research opens up many opportunities for Vietnam’

Dr. Son is currently leading the neutrino research group at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (IFIRSE) under the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), Quy Nhon City. He will return to Vietnam in 2022, after 13 years of participating in international neutrino research projects in the US (5 years) and Japan (8 years).

He shared with VnExpress on neutrinos in the field of particle physics and their potential applications in social life.

– Why are neutrinos important in particle physics research, sir?

– Neutrinos, nicknamed “ghost particles,” are one of the great mysteries of the world of elementary particles—the smallest building blocks of matter. They are called “ghosts” because they interact very weakly with matter and leave almost no trace behind. On the one hand, it is a challenge for scientists to capture “ghosts,” but on the other hand, the information they provide is direct and extremely valuable. In short, neutrinos play a special role in particle and nuclear physics, cosmology, and astronomy, and advances in neutrino science have far-reaching implications for many other fields.

– When did you start researching neutrinos?

– In 2015, I studied the physical capabilities of the Tokai to Kamioka (T2K) experiment in searching for CP symmetry violation. This was the premise to convince the team to collect more data until 2027. From 2016 to present, I participated in the development of a new type of proton beam monitoring system and was in charge of a fiber-optic proton beam loss monitoring system, and performed CPT symmetry violation checks with experiment data. For the Super-Kamiokande (SK) experiment, I participated in the operation and data collection for the experiment.

– What specific projects are you involved in?

– Two famous experiments, Tokai to Kamioka (T2K) and Super-Kamiokande (SK), located in Japan, play a key role in measuring the properties and solving the mysteries of neutrinos. The T2K experiment uses the J-PARC accelerator to accelerate a beam of high-energy protons, which are then smashed into targets to create the parent particles of neutrinos. T2K was the first experiment to detect the transition between two different neutrino states in 2013 and received the Breakthrough Prize in 2016. Next, T2K detected the first signs of CP symmetry violation in neutrino systems in 2020, an important finding that could explain the imbalance between matter and antimatter in the universe. The T2K experiment is still collecting data to confirm this discovery.

Super-Kamiokande is one of the world’s largest neutrino detectors, operating since 1996, with a tank containing 50,000 tons of ultra-pure water and more than 11,000 photomultiplier tubes. It is the main instrument for studying neutrinos from many different sources. SK helped discover neutrino oscillations, which directly contributed to the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics. SK is now being upgraded and is likely to detect for the first time the background neutrinos, the remnants of stellar explosions in the universe. Hyper-Kamiokande, the next generation, is expected to start operating in 2027, opening a new era in neutrino research.

– Why did you return to Vietnam and join the Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (IFIRSE)?

– I learned about IFIRSE in 2012, when I attended the Vietnus2012 conference organized by Professor Karol Lang in Quy Nhon. At that time, ICISE was under construction and Professor Lang suggested that this could be an ideal place to develop neutrino science in Vietnam. After completing my PhD in the US and working in Japan, I decided to return to Vietnam and join IFIRSE in 2022. I was impressed by Professor Tran Thanh Van’s passion and the unique research environment here. This is a place that promotes interdisciplinary research, academic freedom, and connections with world-leading scientists. Currently, I lead the neutrino research group at IFIRSE.

– What are the goals of the projects that you and your colleagues are implementing at IFIRSE?

– As an international mission, IFIRSE participates in the T2K and SK experiments. In T2K, we collect data to increase sensitivity and search for CP symmetry violations. If successful, it will be a major milestone for modern physics. With SK, we currently provide mainly operational support. At the national level, we carry out the Nafosted project to study the theory of neutrinos, seeking to use experimental data to verify and develop new physical models. In the long term, we are developing a laboratory at ICISE.

The goal is not only to directly serve international neutrino experiments but also to bring advanced technologies to Vietnam and create a unique direction. We develop light technologies with ultra-sensitive and ultra-sensitive silicon sensors. We are also collaborating to develop artificial intelligence (AI) research on hardware, measurement experiments and quantum computation.

– How will neutrinos be applied in various areas of social life, sir?

– Neutrino research opens up many potential practical and local applications. We are interested and have the skills to develop a system for monitoring neutrinos from nuclear reactors. This is a method that can remotely monitor the operation of reactors, helping to distinguish between the purpose of electricity generation and uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons development. Techniques for detecting cosmic rays with photosensitizers and extremely sensitive and fast optical sensors can be applied to “X-ray” large geological structures and applications in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.

With the Center for Scientific Discovery and Innovation, we can provide technical and expert support to transform technology, develop measurement systems to observe cosmic rays, detect gamma rays from cosmic rays…

– Why did you propose that the Ministry of Science and Technology allow Vietnam to participate in the HK experiment as a national mission?

– Participating in the HK experiment will create a solid foundation for the long-term development of science and technology in Vietnam. For Binh Dinh, this helps to enhance the province’s scientific position. At the same time, it attracts investment, develops science and technology infrastructure and creates job opportunities for local human resources in the field of high-tech science. At the national scale, it helps to promote basic scientific research, especially in particle physics and astronomy, and develop high technology such as sensors and big data processing. In addition, it helps to strengthen international cooperation and enhance Vietnam’s position in the world scientific community, while training high-quality human resources.

– What advice do you have for young scientists?

– Science is never outdated. In the age of AI, basic knowledge is increasingly important to evaluate whether information is accurate or not. Don’t be afraid to pursue STEM to open up opportunities to study abroad and develop an international career. Consider science as a global “green card”, opening up opportunities to work and study with leading scientists.

Many young people worry about finances when pursuing a career in science. However, I would like to repeat the words of Steve Jobs, founder of Apple: “Stay hungry, stay foolish”. The path of science can be difficult but very meaningful. I am always ready to support young people in their scientific journey.