[time-nuts] Neutrino timing

Marvin Marshak marshak at umn.edu
Mon Oct 24 15:52:51 UTC 2011


Good morning,

Recently physicists using a neutrino beam from Geneva Switzerland to the Gran Sasso
in Italy have reported a measurement of neutrino velocity that is faster than the speed of
light. The effect over a 730 km path length is reported as 60 ns, which means that precise
timing is required at both ends of the beam to have sensitivity to this effect. The reported 
result, if true, has major implications for the fundamental understanding of physics. 
Thus, it is important to carry out independent checks of this measurement.

A similar beam exists between Fermi National Accelerator Lab in Batavia IL and the University
of Minnesota's Underground Laboratory at Soudan in northeastern Minnesota. This U.S. beam has
been used to make a similar measurement, but the GPS timing equipment that was used
(Truetime XL-AK, Model 600-101-015) resulted in an estimated uncertainty of about 70 ns 
in the neutrino time-of-flight, too large to test the recently reported effect. I am one of a 
group of physicists working with the neutrino beam in the U.S.

Although we are also talking with professionals at USNO and NIST, I am interested in possible
suggestions from the "Time Nut" community with respect to the following:

	(a) the possibility of retrospectively improving the existing timing data recorded since 2005 using
the Truetime XL-AK, and
	(b) a quick, low-cost improvement in the timing instrumentation that can be made right away, 
pending arrangements for techniques such as Two-Way Satellite synchronization.

In addition, if there are any "Time Nuts" in the Minnesota area who would like to get more involved in this project,
please feel free to contact me at marshak at umn.edu

Thank you very much.

Marvin Marshak


Marvin L. Marshak
College of Science and Engineering Professor
Morse-Alumni Professor
University of Minnesota
116 Church Street SE
Minneapolis MN 55455  612-624-1312     612-624-4578 (fax)







More information about the time-nuts mailing list