One of the great achievements of neutrino physics was the discovery of solar neutrinos in 1968 through the Homestake underground experiment. This experiment exploited a radiochemical method based on the chlorine-argon process of inverse beta decay suggested by Bruno Pontecorvo in 1946 during his work in the classified Canadian nuclear project. In this paper, we study the emergence of the method. We focus on the role played by the problematic status of the neutrino and its antiparticle in its field of application and the influence exerted by the contemporary models of energy production in the sun. We also provide evidence that a first germ of this radiochemical method, in the form of a chlorine-sulfur process, was suggested in a paper published by Richard Crane in late 1930s.
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October 2015
PAPERS|
October 01 2015
Chasing the ghost particle: The long and winding road toward the detection of solar neutrinos
Matteo Leone;
Matteo Leone
a)
Department of Philosophy and Educational Sciences,
University of Turin
, 10124 Turin, Italy
; Savigliano Campus, University of Turin
, 12038 Savigliano (CN), Italy
; National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN)
, Section of Turin; and Centro Fermi, 00184 Rome, Italy
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Nadia Robotti
Nadia Robotti
b)
Department of Physics,
University of Genova
, 16146 Genova, Italy
; National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN)
, Section of Genova; and Centro Fermi, 00184 Rome, Italy
Search for other works by this author on:
a)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
b)
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Am. J. Phys. 83, 873–880 (2015)
Article history
Received:
November 06 2014
Accepted:
July 15 2015
Citation
Matteo Leone, Nadia Robotti; Chasing the ghost particle: The long and winding road toward the detection of solar neutrinos. Am. J. Phys. 1 October 2015; 83 (10): 873–880. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4927486
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