Why don't neutrinos pass through atoms?

In summary, neutrinos are elusive particles that are difficult to detect due to their small cross section and ability to pass through matter. However, on rare occasions they do interact with atoms, creating an electron through the weak nuclear force. The question of where all the other neutrinos are going remains a mystery.
  • #1
Chrisana
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TL;DR Summary
Neutrino
Summary: Neutrino

A neutrino smashes into an atom and creates an electron - why doesn't the neutrino pass through the atom?
 
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  • #2
Chrisana said:
Summary: Neutrino

A neutrino smashes into an atom and creates an electron - why doesn't the neutrino pass through the atom?
Afaik, most of them do, which is why they are so hard to detect. Neutrinos are produced by nuclear reactions on a regular basis but the reverse process is much less probable. Which raises the question of where are all these neutrinos going. Is the level just building up?? :wink:
 
  • #3
Chrisana said:
Summary: Neutrino

A neutrino smashes into an atom and creates an electron - why doesn't the neutrino pass through the atom?

It does! Overwhelming majority of them do! Otherwise they won't be so elusive from detection.

Zz.
 
  • #4
I moved the thread to the particle physics section.

A typical neutrino cross section at 1 GeV is 10-38 cm2. Compare this to the typical geometric size of a nucleus, 10-25 cm2: Only one in 10 trillion neutrinos will interact with the nucleus, the others fly just through it. At lower energies the probability of a reaction is even smaller.
 
  • #5
But on those rare occasions when it does interact the interaction is due to the weak nuclear force.
 
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Thank you all for your kind replies.
 
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1. Why don't neutrinos pass through atoms?

Neutrinos do in fact pass through atoms, but they interact very weakly with matter. This is because they have no electric charge and very little mass, making them difficult to detect and interact with other particles.

2. How do neutrinos interact with atoms?

Neutrinos interact with atoms through the weak nuclear force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature. This interaction is very weak, making it difficult to detect and measure.

3. Can neutrinos ever collide with atoms?

Yes, neutrinos can collide with atoms, but it is a very rare occurrence due to their weak interaction. When they do collide, they transfer a small amount of energy to the atom, causing it to recoil slightly.

4. Why are neutrinos able to pass through most matter?

Neutrinos are able to pass through most matter because they have a very small cross-section, meaning they have a low probability of interacting with other particles. This is due to their lack of electric charge and small mass.

5. Do neutrinos ever interact with each other?

Yes, neutrinos can interact with each other through a process called neutrino oscillation, where they can change from one type to another. However, this interaction is also very rare and difficult to observe.

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