Physicists outline next 10 years of neutrino research

MSN and other science outlets highlighted a paper co-written by University of Cincinnati professors that outlines the next 10 years of particle physics research.

UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Alexandre Sousa was an editor on the paper that discusses the upcoming experiments on neutrinos, the most abundant particles with mass in the universe. They are created by nuclear fusion reactions in the sun, radioactive decay in nuclear reactors or the Earth’s crust or in particle accelerator labs. As they travel, they can transition between one of three types or “flavors” of neutrinos and back.

According to the white paper published in the Journal of Physics G Nuclear and Particle Physics, neutrino research might help explain one of the universe’s greatest mysteries: why there is more matter than antimatter when the Big Bang should have created equal amounts of both. This asymmetry is the reason galaxies, planets, and we ourselves exist.

“It might not make a difference in your daily life, but we’re trying to understand why we’re here,” Sousa said. “Neutrinos seem to hold the key to answering these very deep questions.”

UC Professor Jure Zupan, UC Associate Professor Adam Aurisano, UC visiting scholar Tarak Thakore, UC postdoctoral fellow Michael Wallbank and UC physics students Herilala Razafinime and Miriama Rajaoalisoa also contributed to the paper.

Sousa said he is excited about the next 10 years of neutrino experiments, including Fermilab's Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, or DUNE, to which he is a contributor.

“With these two detector modules and the most powerful neutrino beam ever we can do a lot of science,” Sousa said. “DUNE coming online will be extremely exciting. It will be the best neutrino experiment ever.”    

Read the MSN story.

Featured image at top: Workers excavate the interior of a cavern to make room for detectors for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. Photo/Lynn Johnson/Fermilab