First Neutrino Interaction, Bubble

by Science Source

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First Neutrino Interaction, Bubble

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Science Source

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The first neutrino-induced reaction in pure hydrogen produced in the 12 foot bubble chamber at the AEC's (Atomic Energy Commission) Argonne. Neutrinos ("little neutron" in Italian, coined by Enrico Fermi) reveal themselves when one strikes an atom and generates a flare of light, but the event is rare. A neutrino is a subatomic particle that is very similar to an electron, but has no electrical charge and a very small mass, which might even be zero. Neutrinos are one of the most abundant particles in the universe. Because they have very little interaction with matter, however, they are incredibly difficult to detect. Nuclear forces treat electrons and neutrinos identically; neither participate in the strong nuclear force, but both participate equally in the weak nuclear force. Particles with this property are termed leptons. The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was an agency of the United States government established after WWII by Congress to foster and control the peacetime development of atomic science and technology. Argonne National Laboratory is a science and engineering research national laboratory. It was initially formed to carry out Enrico Fermi's work on nuclear reactors as part of the Manhattan Project, and it was designated as the first national laboratory in the U.S. on July 1, 1946.

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August 3rd, 2015

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