Neutrino

:Neutrino is also an operating system. See QNX.

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:It is also one half of the rap duo Oxide & Neutrino

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The neutrino is an elementary particle. It has half-integer spin (egin{matrix}rac{1}{2}hbarend{matrix}) and is therefore a fermion. Its mass is very small compared to most other particles, although recent experiments (see Super-Kamiokande and Sudbury Neutrino Observatory) have shown it to be nonzero. Since it is an electrically neutral lepton, the neutrino interacts neither by way of the strong nor the electromagnetic force, but only through the weak force and gravitation.

Related Topics:
Elementary particle - Spin - Fermion - Mass - Super-Kamiokande - Sudbury Neutrino Observatory - Lepton - Strong - Electromagnetic - Weak force - Gravitation

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Due to the fact that the cross section in weak nuclear interactions is very small, neutrinos can pass through matter almost unhindered. For typical neutrinos produced in the sun (energy of a few MeV), it would take approximately one light year (~1016m) of lead to block half of them. Detection of neutrinos can therefore be challenging, requiring large detection volumes or high intensity man-made neutrino beams.

Related Topics:
Cross section - MeV - Light year - Lead

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