Rafting for Solar Neutrinos
Credit:
Super-Kamiokande Collaboration, Japan
Where have all the
neutrinos gone?
A long time passing since this question was first asked (decades)
as increasingly larger and more
diverse detectors sensitive to
neutrinos from our Sun have found fewer than expected.
But why?
Above, scientists check the equipment surrounding a huge tank of extremely pure water from the Super-Kamiokande experiment in Japan, designed to detect colliding
neutrinos. Large detectors are needed because the
neutrino is an
elementary particle that goes right through practically everything.
Reasons for the lack of solar neutrinos may include a more complex theory for
electroweak interactions than currently in use. Future results from
detectors like Super-Kamiokande may help us know more.