Do Massive Objects Like the Sun Deflect Neutrinos?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter HeavyWater
  • Start date Start date
HeavyWater
Messages
55
Reaction score
4
TL;DR
Do massive objects deflect the trajectories of neutrinos?
We know the results of Einstein's experiment in 1919. Simply stated, the sun deflected the paths of photons. The results were exciting for many reasons--one of which was that photons have no mass. Neutrinos do have mass. Do other massive objects, such as the sun, deflect the paths of neutrinos?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes. Why would neutrinos be any different from any other massive particle in this regard?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ohwilleke
Thank you for the rapid response Orodruin.
 
Orodruin said:
Yes. Why would neutrinos be any different from any other massive particle in this regard?
Don't Neutrinos have nonzero rest mass and still travel at lightspeed? Could this possibly give them the inertia needed to continue in a straight line, piercing stars and galaxies unbent as well as unslowed?
Doubtful, but do we know?
 
They typically travel at a speed very close to but below the speed of light. The difference is too small to measure it but it is there.
Everything is deflected by gravity. This is a property of spacetime, it doesn't depend on the particle type.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ohwilleke
HeavyWater said:
Summary: Do massive objects deflect the trajectories of neutrinos?
To your question, general relativity tells us that mass bends space-time. So light and neutrinos are deflected by massive objects.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: ohwilleke

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
6K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K