Physics: Smallest neutrino mass recorded
A paper revealing that the mass of anti-electron neutrinos, which are one of the elementary particles, is 1 electron volt or less, that is, 0.9 × 1.6 ^ -10 kilograms or less, is published in Nature Physics.
Neutrinos are weakly interacting, uncharged particles that come in three different types: electron neutrinos, muon neutrinos, and tau neutrinos.The mass of neutrinos is extremely small compared to most other elementary particles.Neutrino oscillations have shown that neutrinos have mass, but their actual mass is unknown.
This time, the KATRIN collaboration investigated a radioisotope called tritium.This element decays into helium, electrons, and anti-electron neutrinos (antiparticles of electron neutrinos).The maximum energy distribution of this decay can vary depending on the mass of the neutrino.The authors find that the effective mass of anti-electron neutrinos is less than 0.9 electron volt, or 1.6 × 10 ^ -36 kilograms, by increasing the number of tritium decays while reducing the adverse effects of another type of radioactive decay. I was able to show.
By combining this result with the result of the first systematic experiment of the KATRIN collaboration, the neutrino mass can be obtained more accurately, and the understanding of neutrinos is gradually deepened.
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"Highlights of Nature Magazines" is a translation of a release made by Nature's public relations department for the press.If you need more accurate and detailed information, be sure to read the original paper.
* This article is reprinted from "Nature Japan Featured Highlights".
Reprinted from: "Physics: Lower neutrino mass limit ever'
