World’s most powerful detector to examine nuclear ‘fingerprints’ with 100x sensitivity

GRETA, a new nuclear detector completed by Berkeley Lab researchers, will offer 10-100 times more sensitivity than previous technology for studying atomic nuclei. The spherical array uses germanium crystals cooled to -300°F to track gamma-ray "fingerprints" from nuclear collisions, helping scientists understand how heavy elements form in stars and explore fundamental questions about matter. Installation begins this fall with experiments starting in 2026.