Did a Clock Error Make Neutrinos Appear Faster Than Light?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the hypothesis that a clock error may have led to the misinterpretation of neutrinos traveling faster than light during the OPERA experiment. The user suggests that the synchronization of clocks at CERN and Gran Sasso could have introduced a minuscule delay, causing the recorded neutrino speed to appear superluminal. This theory aligns with Einstein's principles, asserting that the perceived faster-than-light travel was a result of inaccurate timekeeping rather than a violation of relativity. The user encourages further exploration of systematic errors identified by experimenters in related threads.

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  • Understanding of Einstein's theory of relativity
  • Familiarity with the OPERA experiment and its methodology
  • Knowledge of time synchronization techniques in experimental physics
  • Awareness of systematic errors in scientific experiments
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  • Research the OPERA experiment's findings and subsequent analyses
  • Learn about time synchronization methods used in particle physics
  • Investigate systematic errors in experimental design and their impact on results
  • Explore Einstein's theory of relativity and its implications for particle physics
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Physicists, students of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the implications of experimental errors in high-energy physics research.

dart plegius
Neutrinos faster than light SOLVED ?

Heya all,

I was thinking about the neutrinos going faster than light (yes, it has been some time ago), and thought, on Einstein's side, that they couldn't have. So I conjured something up.

What if the clocks they used were not on equal, because of the miniscule delay in time? It could explain why they seemed to beat the speed of light. Let me explain:

For example, they set their clocks straight by means of an electrical signal signalling 12 o' clock. The clock at CERN sends this signal to Grand Sasso (I don't know the name of the place), and arrives there slightly later, saying it should be 12 o' clock. The clock at GS takes this.

Next, the neutrinos are fired at say 1 o' clock. The GS clock records the neutrinos fired at only slightly before 1 o' clock. They arrive (which would be in accordance with Einstein) slightly later than 1 o' clock on the GS clock. Due to the neutrinos having this extra miniscule time, they seemed to have traveled faster than light, whilst actually the clocks were wrong.

This is just something I thought of, and thought I'd also give you some food for thought.
 
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Please read our guidelines for this forum:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=593815
 


Also see the very long thread here (in our relativity forum) about the experiment:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=532620

Somewhere near the end you will find out about the sources of systematic error that the experimenters themselves finally found.
 

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