How the asymmetry between matter
and anti-matter in our Universe might be generated. Why might neutrinos be a key player in achieving this?
(a) We already know neutrinos can morph from one neutrino type to another. It is possible,
although not certain, that neutrinos could morph into anti-neutrinos and vice versa.
This morphing of particle to anti-particle could play a role in generating the matter/anti-
matter asymmetry.
(b) They are the third particle required to complete the triangle picture that Professor
Murayama used.
(c) Neutrinos have a tiny mass, on the order of a billion times less than the electron mass,
m� ∼ 10−9me. We also know that there was only one extra matter particle for every
billion particles and anti-particles, � ∼ 10−9. The fact that these numbers are both
order 10−9 must be more than coincidence.
(d) Neutrinos are emitted when a neutron decays into a proton, n → p + e− + ¯�e, known as
beta decay. Detecting the neutrinos from single beta decay events allows us to see how
baryon conservation is violated.
Cheating on the final exam, I see. :P
Dont. Try to figure the answer out yourself!
I agree with you Noah.Gwerty,try to figure by your own...Good luck!
The asymmetry between matter and anti-matter in our universe is still not fully understood, but there are several possible explanations for how it might be generated. One of the theories proposes that neutrinos could be a key player in achieving this asymmetry.
Neutrinos are subatomic particles that have the unique ability to morph from one type of neutrino to another. This phenomenon is known as neutrino oscillation. While it is not yet confirmed, it is possible that neutrinos could also morph into their anti-particle counterparts, called anti-neutrinos, and vice versa. This morphing of neutrinos into anti-neutrinos and vice versa could play a role in generating the matter/anti-matter asymmetry.
Additionally, neutrinos are the third particle required to complete the "triangle picture" used by Professor Murayama. This triangle picture represents the three types of particles involved in generating the matter/anti-matter asymmetry. The other two particles in this picture are quarks and charged leptons.
One important aspect of neutrinos is that they have a very tiny mass, about a billion times less than the mass of an electron. This small mass is significant because we know that there was only one extra matter particle for every billion particles and anti-particles in the early universe. The fact that the mass of neutrinos is on the same order as this matter/anti-matter asymmetry (both around 10^-9) suggests that there might be a deeper connection between neutrinos and the generation of this asymmetry.
Furthermore, neutrinos are emitted during beta decay when a neutron decays into a proton. This process, denoted as n → p + e- + anti-neutrino, violates the conservation of baryon number, which is a fundamental symmetry principle in particle physics. Detecting neutrinos from single beta decay events allows us to study how baryon conservation is violated, which is important in understanding the behavior of matter and anti-matter in the universe.
In summary, the asymmetry between matter and anti-matter in our universe is still an active area of research. Neutrinos are considered as potential key players in generating this asymmetry due to their ability to morph from one type to another, their connection to the triangle picture of particle physics, the similarity between their mass and the matter/anti-matter asymmetry, and their involvement in violating baryon conservation during beta decay.