Re: neutrino mass

[David Emigh <emigh@commnet.edu>]

LUDWIK KOWALSKI wrote:

> The conclusion is based on a theory which relates observed oscillations
> to the mass. I would be more convinced if somebody was able to show
> that the maximum energy of beta particles is slightly less than what
> is due to the mass difference (before and after the decay). Can mass
> spectroscopic data be accurate enough for such approach? We will see
> when the value of the mass is announced.

A mass will not be announced, rather a lower limit will be given (0.07eV
+/- 0.04 eV) as the experiment is not designed to measure mass but rather
the difference in mass between the oscillation states of the neutrino.  For
example if the neutrino oscillates between the mu-neutrino and the electron
neutrino then one of these neutrinos in 0.07eV more massive than the
other.  So technically one neutrino could have zero mass while the other
would have a mass of 0.07eV.  What makes this experiment so important is
that we have been able to give upper limits to neutrino mass we never had a
non-zero lower limit.  Now we have a lower limit.

David Emigh