SST 2024: Session 5 Links, Materials, Assignment
Neutrino Physics
July 23, 2024
7:30pm - 9:30pm Eastern time
Learning objectives:
In this lecture, we will discuss the big questions and big experiments in neutrino physics.
The slides from this session can be found here and the chat transcript is here.
A recording of the course can be found here.
Homework assignment (due July 23):
A. Read this overview article about neutrino physics in the US: https://gizmodo.com/why-the-u-s-is-betting-it-all-on-the-most-puzzling-par-1843517654
B. Watch the following (5 minute) video to investigate how a compound pendulum can be used to understand neutrino oscillations and be prepared to discuss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqVF3NSc5xg
Bonus points if you decide to build your own coupled pendulum: https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/coupled-resonant-pendulums-2
C. Do the Signal and Noise activity from the QuarkNet data portfolio: https://quarknet.org/data-portfolio/activity/signal-and-noise-basics
Start with the student guide, and write down your answers somewhere.
Example answers can be found in the teacher's guide to this activity.
D. Fill out the weekly course survey (link sent via email). Note that this step is required every week in order to self-report the number of hours spent so we can give you professional development credit.
The homework should take approximately one hour to complete. If you finish before one hour, then feel free to explore the additional resources below. If you cannot finish the assignment in one hour, then feel free to stop halfway through.
Additional resources
Historical:
Pauli's 1930 letter proposing neutrinos: http://www.basic-physics.com/n4-pauli-letter-proposing-what-came-to-be-called-the-neutrino/
1956 experiment that discovered neutrinos: https://cerncourier.com/a/ghosts-in-the-machine/
Current experiments:
Neutrinos at the IceCube detector: https://masterclass.icecube.wisc.edu/en/learn/learn-about-neutrinos
DUNE experiment at Fermilab: https://lbnf-dune.fnal.gov/
Overviews:
Articles by Symmetry magazine describing all things neutrinos: https://www.symmetrymagazine.org/collection/neutrinos-101?language_content_entity=und
Fermilab website describing all things neutrinos: https://neutrinos.fnal.gov
Don Lincoln video on how to detect neutrinos (he has several good neutrino videos): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKO8f79Ekew
Classroom activity:
Perimeter Institute lesson on neutrinos (you have to make a free account and “check out” to get the download link): https://resources.perimeterinstitute.ca/products/where-did-all-the-neutrinos-from-the-sun-go?variant=36262296518