Transformations of neutrinos

For which they gave the Nobel Prize in Physics: N + 1

In Stockholm on October 6, the Nobel Prize for Physics for 2015 were named the Nobel Prize: the award was awarded to Takaaki Cajit and Arthur McDonald, the leaders of two experimental groups of Super-Kamiokande and SNO, who study the property of elementary neutrino particles. Both scientists have proven that neutrinos are able to oscilize - spontaneously turn into each other on the fly. The scientific publication N + 1 explains in detail what is the essence of the research of the Nobel laureates.

Andrei Konyaev, editor -in -chief editor N + 1: Favorite question of the townsfolk, which can often be heard precisely to the Nobel Prize in Physics: “What are this discovery of practical applications?” Yes, this is not a cure for malaria, but the problem is that in the case of fundamental science, this is fundamentally improper raising the question. The neutrino, for which this year they gave the award, are not studied at all because they will allow you to make a new iPhone, say, liquid - no. They are studied because it is interesting. Practice is only a consequence of this interest, a by -product of the curiosity of a group of scientists who are ready to put their lives on research.

And how can it be boring if the neutrino is able to fly through the whole earth through and not even notice this? Three types of neutrino are able to turn into each other - this is a property, for the discovery of which they gave a bonus, in general, it is difficult to imagine, he has no analogues in the macomir familiar to us. To study the neutrino, you have to build huge, amazing installations (photos from the Super-Kamiokande detector look like the work of some modern photographer). It is neutrinnic physics that is now engaged in the most interesting, most mysterious and at the same time available for observation of phenomena. It is no coincidence that since 1988 this is already the fourth Nobel, dedicated to neutrino.

However, of course, I am a little thicken the colors. More recently, in practice, it was possible to show that the neutrinum flow from the nuclear reactor can be analyzed. So, you can find out what is happening inside the active zone, which isotopes there breaks up. And all this, not looking inside. It's very cool.

The Super-Kamiokande collaboration performed measurements and published in 1998 a magnificent result in its conviction. It turned out that from afar, from the atmosphere from the opposite side of the Earth, Muonnaya neutrino comes significantly less than from above. If there were no oscillations, these flows would be approximately equal. The lack of muon neutrinos going from afar means that on the way to the detector they managed to turn into other neutrinos on the way to the detector.

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