Construction of large underground detectors has enabled physicists to study neutrinos from man-made sources, from outer space, and from the interior of the earth. These studies have produced new insights in astrophysics, geophysics, and the properties of neutrinos themselves. The combined results from studies of atmospheric neutrinos, solar neutrinos, reactor antineutrinos and neutrinos produced at accelerators paint an intriguing picture involving finite neutrino masses and surprisingly strong mixing between neutrino flavors. These results clearly require modification of the standard model of particle physics and provide strong motivation for future neutrino oscillation experiments, searches for direct neutrino mass, and nuclear double-beta decay. I will summarize the status of experimental and theoretical work in this field and discuss the future opportunities that have emerged in light of recent discoveries.
Faculty Host: Haiyan Gao
Coffee and cookies before the presentation at 3:15 pm, and refreshments after the presentation will both be served in Room 128.