Quantum gravity and planck scales.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the topic of neutrino mass differences, their potential explanations through decoherence, and the implications for quantum gravity. Participants explore the Solar Neutrino Problem and the role of neutrino oscillation in understanding these phenomena, while also referencing experimental efforts to test these theories.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a 2004 paper suggesting that decoherence could explain neutrino mass differences without expanding the neutrino sector, linking it to quantum gravity effects.
  • One participant questions the explanation of neutrino mass differences through decoherence, suggesting it may imply a preferred location for detectors, which could affect results.
  • Another participant notes that the Solar Neutrino Problem involves a shortfall in detected solar neutrinos compared to predictions, with various experiments reporting discrepancies.
  • Some participants mention ongoing experiments, such as those at Fermilab, aimed at testing neutrino oscillation theory and the existence of neutrino mass.
  • There is a suggestion that neutrinos may interact with quantum foams, as predicted in Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG), leading to decoherence effects.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about whether the Solar Neutrino Problem has been resolved, indicating that some literature still shows a shortfall in expected neutrino counts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the status of the Solar Neutrino Problem and the validity of decoherence as an explanation for neutrino mass differences. There is no consensus on whether the problem has been resolved or the implications of decoherence in this context.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in understanding the implications of decoherence and the complexities surrounding the Solar Neutrino Problem, with some suggesting that further clarification may be needed regarding the mechanisms involved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying neutrino physics, quantum gravity, and experimental approaches to understanding fundamental particle interactions.

wolram
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april 2004 paper

http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0404014

Decoherence has the potential to explain all existing neutrino data including LSND results, without enlarging the neutrino sector. This particular form of CPT violation can preserve the equality of masses and mixing angles between particle and antiparticle sectors, and still provide seizable differences in the oscillation patterns. A simplified minimal model of decoherence is sufficient to explain the existing neutrino data quite neatly, while making dramatic predictions for the upcoming experiments. Some comments on the order of the decoherence parameters in connection with theoretically expected values from some models of quantum-gravity are given. In particular, the quantum gravity decoherence as a primary origin of the neutrino mass differences scenario is explored, and even a speculative link between the neutrino mass-difference scale to the dark energy density component of the Universe today is drawn.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
this maybe the wrong place to post this article, but can someone explain
the, neutrino mass differences?
 
a project called "Mini boone", an underground neutrino observatory
links to first paper.
http://www.physicscentral.com/action/action-01-1c.html

Neutrinos that originate in the sun are called solar neutrinos. Since they escape the sun's core unimpeded, these solar neutrinos, when detected, can provide information about the reaction processes deep inside the sun. However, data from several neutrino detectors reveal only approximately half the number of neutrinos that are expected from prevailing theories. This is a puzzle commonly known as the Solar Neutrino Problem..
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possibility to test QG, in the near future.
 
I read this, but understood very little .. it's way over my head. But, if it can be explained by decoherance, wouldn't that be like placing our detectors at a preferred location and using that to explain results at all locations? I mean, decoherance could happen at any place between the Sun and Earth. Maybe they addressed that in the article, and I was totally lost before that part.
 
Nacho said:
I read this, but understood very little .. it's way over my head. But, if it can be explained by coherence, wouldn't that be like placing our detectors at a preferred location and using that to explain results at all locations? I mean, coherence could happen at any place between the Sun and Earth.
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the paper is suggesting that neutrinos are interacting with quantum
foams, a prediction in LGQ, and that it is these interaction that
cause decoherence.
I'm no expert, maybe MARCUS or one of the LQG guys will give an
opinion.
 
I thought that the Solar Neutrino Problem had already been resolved by neutrino oscillation. Am I thinking of the wrong problem?
 
LURCH.
this article is dated april 2004, i don't know if the "problem" has
been solved, but all the papers i can find show a short fall, maybe
some one knows better?

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/astronomy/faq/part5/section-5.html

The first, and most well-known, "solar neutrino problem" is that
every experiment has measured a shortfall of neutrinos. About one- to
two-thirds of the neutrinos expected are observed, depending on
experimental error. In the case of GALLEX, the data read 80 units
where 120 are expected, and the discrepancy is about two standard
deviations.
 
At Fermilab, they are attempting to test the neutrino oscillation theory by shooting neutrinos to a detector in Minnisota which should "prove" that neutrinos have mass. I don't know why, but I think they don't. But like photons, they do carry energy so who knows.
 

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