Tau sneutrino as tachyonic Higgs

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of tau sneutrinos as tachyonic Higgs particles, particularly in the context of the OPERA experiment's reported superluminal neutrinos. Participants explore theoretical implications, statistical significance of the OPERA results, and the potential for particle-sparticle mixing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the unbroken Higgs could be a tachyonic object within the standard model, linking it to the OPERA experiment's findings on superluminal neutrinos.
  • Others express skepticism about the statistical significance of the OPERA results, suggesting a high likelihood of inaccuracy.
  • There is a discussion about the interpretation of the six sigma significance level, with conflicting views on what it implies regarding accuracy.
  • A participant raises a concern that it is the sneutrino, not the neutrino, that is tachyonic, questioning the validity of neutrino-sneutrino mixing.
  • Another participant speculates on the possibility of particle-sparticle mixing through interactions with a goldstino, suggesting that this could allow neutrinos to behave as sneutrinos.
  • There is a clarification that the term "tachyonic" in relation to the Higgs refers to having imaginary mass rather than implying superluminal speeds.
  • One participant speculates on the potential for FTL neutrinos through a goldstino-mediated "superoscillation" into a sneutrino state, while acknowledging the mathematical uncertainties involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no consensus reached on the validity of the proposed ideas or the implications of the OPERA results. Disagreement exists regarding the interpretation of statistical significance and the nature of tachyonic particles.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unresolved assumptions about particle interactions, the nature of tachyonic mass, and the implications of statistical significance in experimental results.

mitchell porter
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I can't resist voicing this idea. You can see its genesis http://johncostella.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/could-the-opera-tachyon-be-the-unbroken-higgs/" also contributed.

The "logic" is as follows: The unbroken Higgs is a tachyonic object already found in the standard model. OPERA's FTL neutrinos are mu-neutrinos that turn into tau-neutrinos. And the superpartner of the tau-neutrino has the capacity to http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0005295" the down-type Higgs of the MSSM.
 
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While this does sound like a good explanation for the supposed superluminal neutrinos, don't forget that the experiment and its results have a statistical significance factor of 6. I believe that that means there's a 98.6% chance of it being inaccurate.
 
Doesn't six sigma mean that the possibility of being accurate is 99.99966%?
 
arrektor said:
Doesn't six sigma mean that the possibility of being accurate is 99.99966%?

Maybe. I just read a different article and it seemed like the Sigma factor meant the likely-hood that something's wrong.
 
mitchell porter said:
I can't resist voicing this idea. You can see its genesis http://johncostella.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/could-the-opera-tachyon-be-the-unbroken-higgs/" also contributed.

The "logic" is as follows: The unbroken Higgs is a tachyonic object already found in the standard model. OPERA's FTL neutrinos are mu-neutrinos that turn into tau-neutrinos. And the superpartner of the tau-neutrino has the capacity to http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0005295" the down-type Higgs of the MSSM.
I also had a similar idea, but was not able to make it more concrete. I hope someone could develop the idea further. This potentially could explain TWO things at once: OPERA experiments and failures to find the massive Higgs particle.
 
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One problem with this idea is that it's the sneutrino, not the neutrino, which is a tachyon, and the idea of "neutrino-sneutrino mixing" did not appear to make sense.

However, now I'm wondering if you can get particle-sparticle mixing (within the same multiplet) via interactions with a goldstino (the particle which arises from spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry). Could you have a "goldstino VEV" or a "goldstino condensate" which leads to a neutrino spending some time as a sneutrino?

If that were possible, the next problem is that the Higgs is "tachyonic" only in the sense of having imaginary mass, not in the sense of going faster than light. This is the universal conventional understanding, anyway. I speculated http://diracseashore.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/faster-than-light-neutrino-claim/" ).

So, to sum up, the idea here is that you get FTL neutrinos by a goldstino-mediated "superoscillation" into an FTL sneutrino state. Quite possibly this makes no sense mathematically. Also, since there are no extra dimensions or violations of Lorentz invariance involved, the https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=538559" will come up.

But the rumor is that OPERA has confirmed the effect, so we may be headed back to the FTL theoretical races very soon.
 
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