Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Neutrino oscillations are the phenomenon where a neutrino changes its flavor (type) as it propagates through space. This implies that neutrinos have mass and can transform among three types: electron, muon, and tau neutrinos.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Neutrino oscillations were first confirmed experimentally by the Super-Kamiokande and Sudbury Neutrino Observatory experiments.
The discovery of neutrino oscillations implies that neutrinos have a small but nonzero mass.
Neutrino oscillations can be described mathematically using the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) matrix.
The probability of a neutrino changing its flavor depends on the distance traveled and the energy of the neutrino.
Neutrino oscillations solve the solar neutrino problem, which was a discrepancy between the number of electron neutrinos detected from the sun and theoretical predictions.
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Related terms
Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) matrix: A mathematical framework used to describe the mixing of different flavors of neutrinos as they propagate through space.
Solar Neutrino Problem: The historical discrepancy between the observed number of electron neutrinos from the sun and theoretical predictions prior to understanding neutrino oscillations.
Super-Kamiokande: A large water Cherenkov detector located in Japan, instrumental in providing evidence for atmospheric and solar neutrino oscillations.