OPERA experiment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:21, 27 September 2011

Revision as of 06:23, 27 September 2011

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In a much lower energy range, a limit of |''v''&nbsp;−&nbsp;''c''|/''c'' < 2{{E|-9}} was set by the observation of anti-neutrinos detected in connection with the [[SN 1987A]] supernova.<ref name="OPERA_20110922"/> Had neutrinos emitted by SN 1987A been travelling with a speed corresponding to the speed reported by the OPERA experiment, the particles would have arrived at Earth almost four years before light from the event, while light from the supernova was in fact detected at roughly the same time as the neutrinos, consistent with the neutrinos travelling at the same speed as light.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/09/22/faster-than-light-travel-discovered-slow-down-folks/ |title=Faster-than-light travel discovered? Slow down, folks &#124; Bad Astronomy &#124; Discover Magazine |publisher=Blogs.discovermagazine.com |accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref> However, the measurement from SN 1987A can not immediately be seen as contradicting the measurement from the OPERA experiment, as it is not currently known how neutrino velocity may depend on particle energy, distance traveled, or other factors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.discovery.com/space/reality-check-what-are-those-naughty-neutrinos-really-up-to-110924.html |title=Naughty 'Faster Than Light' Neutrinos a Reality? |publisher=Discovery News|accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref>

Responses from physicistsPhysicists unaffiliated with the experiment, such as [[Martin Rees]],<ref name="sciam_luminarydoubt">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ftl-neutrinos</ref> [[George Smoot]],<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2011-09/27/c_131161271.htm</ref> [[Steven Weinberg]], [[Lawrence Krauss]]<ref name="sciam_luminarydoubt"/> [[Brian Greene]], and [[Michio Kaku]]<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/challenging-einstein-usually-losing-venture-214054440.html</ref><ref name=Challenge>{{cite web|title=Challenging Einstein is usually a losing venture|url=http://news.yahoo.com/challenging-einstein-usually-losing-venture-214054440.html|publisher=AP/Yahoo News|accessdate=26 September 2011|author=Jordans, Frank; Borenstein, Seth|date=24 September 2011}}</ref> have been generally skeptical of OPERA's result. Spokespeople for both Fermilab and the [[T2K experiment]] confirmed their intentions to test the OPERA result in coming months.<ref name="LA Times" /> Fermilab noted in reaction to the OPERA announcement that the detectors for the MINOS project are being upgraded, and new results are not expected until at least 2012.<ref name=fermilab>

{{cite web

|title=OPERA experiment reports anomaly in flight time of neutrinos