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R. N. Mohapatra
14.4 Long Distance Communication Using
Neutrinos
Our civilization relies very heavily on effective forms of communication (e.g.
emails, GPS systems, etc.). Currently, most communications are done using
radio waves. But they have a lot of limitations. For example, seawater can stop
or affect the propagation of radio waves. Similarly, in space travel, if we are on
the other side of the moon, communication using radio waves is not possible.
On the other hand, neutrinos pass through almost all matter without getting
deflected or stopped. A neutrino can pass through 1000 light years of lead
without its beam getting distorted. As a result, messages sent with neutrino
beams can travel very far without distortion. Is the idea feasible?
Communication needs a sender of the beam and a receiver of the beam
and a message carrier which remains undistorted over long distances. For
radio waves, there are many effective ways to do both the sending and
receiving. Neutrinos are not yet emitted in large enough numbers to make
communication feasible with the current state of technology. Attempts on the
small scale have however been successful as shown in an experiment done at
Fermi National Lab. A message using the neutrino beam was sent using the
NuMI experimental beam as the source and was detected one kilometer away
in a detector called MINERVA. The message sent was the word “neutrino”
using a modulation of the neutrino beam. It is interesting that the attempt was
successful when the detector was in close proximity. Possibly, at some stage the
technology will improve to the extent of making such communication feasible
as well as practical at longer distances. The message rate in the MINERVA was
of course slow, only 0.1 bits/s. But things can improve with time. All science
starts slow!
14.5 Using Neutrinos for National Security
Purpose
One of the things we learn from nuclear physics is that in a nuclear explosion,
a lot of neutrinos are produced and since they interact very weakly, they can go
for long distances without any interruptions and convey the message that there
was a nuclear explosion. If there is a rogue nation which does a clandestine
nuclear explosion, its location can be pinpointed by putting three detectors in
different countries surrounding the rogue country. Down the line, this can be
a potentially important application of neutrino physics.
R. N. Mohapatra
14.4 Long Distance Communication Using
Neutrinos
Our civilization relies very heavily on effective forms of communication (e.g.
emails, GPS systems, etc.). Currently, most communications are done using
radio waves. But they have a lot of limitations. For example, seawater can stop
or affect the propagation of radio waves. Similarly, in space travel, if we are on
the other side of the moon, communication using radio waves is not possible.
On the other hand, neutrinos pass through almost all matter without getting
deflected or stopped. A neutrino can pass through 1000 light years of lead
without its beam getting distorted. As a result, messages sent with neutrino
beams can travel very far without distortion. Is the idea feasible?
Communication needs a sender of the beam and a receiver of the beam
and a message carrier which remains undistorted over long distances. For
radio waves, there are many effective ways to do both the sending and
receiving. Neutrinos are not yet emitted in large enough numbers to make
communication feasible with the current state of technology. Attempts on the
small scale have however been successful as shown in an experiment done at
Fermi National Lab. A message using the neutrino beam was sent using the
NuMI experimental beam as the source and was detected one kilometer away
in a detector called MINERVA. The message sent was the word “neutrino”
using a modulation of the neutrino beam. It is interesting that the attempt was
successful when the detector was in close proximity. Possibly, at some stage the
technology will improve to the extent of making such communication feasible
as well as practical at longer distances. The message rate in the MINERVA was
of course slow, only 0.1 bits/s. But things can improve with time. All science
starts slow!
14.5 Using Neutrinos for National Security
Purpose
One of the things we learn from nuclear physics is that in a nuclear explosion,
a lot of neutrinos are produced and since they interact very weakly, they can go
for long distances without any interruptions and convey the message that there
was a nuclear explosion. If there is a rogue nation which does a clandestine
nuclear explosion, its location can be pinpointed by putting three detectors in
different countries surrounding the rogue country. Down the line, this can be
a potentially important application of neutrino physics.