Shreyas Jammi

Independent Research GT, 4B

11 March 2019

Research Proposal and Timeline

Title: The Elusive Neutrino: An Investigation on Neutrino Oscillation

Overview of Research:

This research project will be focused on locating and compiling the properties of the

neutrino and their effect on the neutrino mass matrix. The purpose of this project is to compile

and identify the properties of the right-handed neutrino and its correlation with the neutrino mass

matrix to allow for more streamlined research within the field of neutrino particle physics. After

collecting and reviewing the secondary research, the data and information will be used to design

a cyclotron that optimizes on the magnitude of its sensor abilities. At the end of this experiment,

the researcher hopes to be able to create and build a cyclotron that is able to detect and decode

the neutrino mass matrix to be able to finally understand and complete the standard model of

particle physics.

Background and Rationale:

As the world advances in knowledge and technological power and ability, people are still

unable to answer some of the most basic questions humanity has been asking since the dawn of

modern thought itself. At the largest cosmological scale, there are galaxies and incredible

astrophysical phenomena that scientists observe, but the most fundamental level, there are

trillions of neutrinos passing through you every second. However, due to the neutrinos peculiar

and small nature, physicists are lost as to how the neutrino functions within nature. The neutrino
is the world’s smallest particle, and as a result, the neutrino virtually does not interact with

matter, so much so that physicist have come to believe that neutrinos are massless particle for

very long time until a study in 2010 by Takaaki Kajita and Author B. McDonald proved neutrino

have mass through an interesting phenomenon called neutrino oscillations (Kajita, 2010). This

interesting neutrino phenomenon created ripples within the scientific community, and physicists

rushed to reevaluate what they once knew about the standard model of particle physics. This

excitement has been incredible within the scientific community, leading to much speculation as

to what new physics may be produced from studying neutrino oscillations. Several scientists

have proposed many propositions as to what may come of this research; one prevailing theory is

this may give rise to information on the right-handed neutrinos, which may contain information

of the answers to the cosmological Byron asymmetry problem that has been plaguing scientists

for decades (Bilenky, Giunti, & Grimus, 1999). .

Every second of every day, neutrinos are penetrating everything we see, and the

academic community, as well as the public, are getting increasingly more interested in this

particle’s secrets. There is new information arising from studies every day, and understanding

and pushing the frontier of knowledge is important to discover new venues and areas of physics

that were previously unknown to mankind. It is important for people to understand what

knowledge lies in the regions of unexplored physics, as understanding these unknown areas can

lead to world-changing discoveries that change how society and technology functions, just as the

discovery of the quantum physics had to modern electronics.

Research Methodology:

Research Question:
 What indications do Neutrino Oscillations provide to create a complete neutrino mass

matrix?

Research Hypothesis:

Neutrino Oscillations indicate that the properties of the right-handed neutrino mass

resemble the Dirac neutrino mass matrix due the lack of influence found from sterile neutrinos as

well as the low energy zenith angle detected within scientific cyclotronic facilities around the

world.

Research Design Model:

The research will primarily be a literary meta-analysis of scientific research done within

neutrino particle physics study. This research will provide a compilation and a scientific

argument for the neutrino mass properties and its correlation with the right-handed neutrino

within the neutrino mass matrix through a series of neutrino particle physics lectures explaining

in details the mechanics and physics of the research itself.

Data Collection:

For data collection, interviews will be conducted and scientific literature will be

reviewed. These interviews will be conducted with experts within the field of particle physics,

specifically, neutrino particle physics researchers, to get an in-depth review and understanding of

the neutrino mass matrix to understand how the neutrino oscillations may indicate that the

neutrino particle properties that are often unclear to understand. The scientific literature review

has been in development for months through reading reports and notes and information gathered

is compiled within a neutrino particle physics research journal. Within this research journal, all

the information is written and stored to be used to formally within a research paper. This will
allow for general data from scientific literature while also being supplemented and clarified with

specific data from interviews and human resources from experts within the field of neutrino

astronomy.

Product Objectives:

Based on what is found through the data collection and synthesis process, a series of

lectures will be developed in order to educate the public and academics interested within the

mechanics and complexities of neutrino astronomy, as to stimulate interest and knowledge

within the neutrino particle physics. These lectures will integrate the knowledge and research

from the data collection process, and formally create an argument for the reason why the

neutrino particle mass properties may exist in such a way. A series of lectures for the interested

academic and viewer to watch and learn about particle physics at a beginner’s state, so anyone

can follow along and understand the interesting material and hopefully absorb the information as

much as possible.

The target audience of this product will primarily be the academic audience or physics

enthusiasts who are curious to understand the physics and mechanics behind neutrino particle

physics without going through reading and learning physics on its own. This will also help

researchers with synthesizing information to allow for a streamlined neutrino research process.

Physics enthusiasts will benefit the most from the research, as they will absorb the knowledge

from the lectures and give themselves ground to explore the topic in further depth or become

more interested in the teaching of physics in general.

Logistical Considerations:
The project will require the understanding of complex mathematical and physics ideas that are

taught in the undergraduate and even graduate level and unfortunately is very difficult for an

entry-level student to comprehend and/or fully understand. This may take away from the

potential and depth of the research, as the research will mainly focus on understanding the

concepts being taught at a fundamental level.

References:

Bilenky, S. M., Giunti, C., & Grimus, W. (1999, June). Phenomenology of Neutrino Oscillations.

Retrieved from https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/9812360.pdf

Drewes, M. (2013, March). The Phenomenology of Right Handed Neutrinos. Retrieved from

Cornell University Library database.

Timeline:

This timeline is an outline that encompasses the structure for the plan for data collection and

research presentation throughout the rest of the year in order to better facilitate a focused and

concentrated execution of the data collection process.

3.15.2019 - Discuss with Dr. Keihl to approve potential Data Collection methods, specifically

looking into a meta-analysis study with a focus on understanding the neutrino oscillation and the

seesaw mechanism. Discuss potential research studies to scientifically review within the meeting

and gain approval from Dr. Keihl.

3.18.2019 - Annotate and record all annotations and review of the first neutrino research study

within the research journal. Document reflection and analysis of the neutrino study within the

notebook
3.19.2019 - Create and finish the Research Presentation, write notes for the presentation, and

contact the teacher for presenting to mathematics and/or physics class.

3.20.2019 - Edit all annotations and information from the first neutrino research study within the

journal.

3.21.2019 - Annotate and record all annotations and review of the second neutrino research study

within the journal. Document reflection and analysis of the neutrino study within the journal.

3.23.2019 - Edit all annotations and information from the second neutrino research study within

the journal.

3.25.2019 - Give Research Presentation to the class and submit reflection to Dr. Keihl

3.25.2019 - Annotate and record all annotations and review of the third neutrino research study

within the research journal. Document reflection and analysis of the neutrino study within the

notebook.

3.27.2019 - Edit all annotations and information from the third neutrino research study within the

journal.

3.27.2019 - Submit the Oral Presentation Assignment

3.29.2019 - Annotate and record all annotations and review of the fourth neutrino research study

within the research journal. Document reflection and analysis of the neutrino study within the

notebook.

3.31.2019 - Edit all annotations and information from the fourth neutrino research study within

the journal.
3.31.2019 - Annotate and record all annotations and review of the fifth neutrino research study

within the research journal. Document reflection and analysis of the neutrino study within the

notebook.

4.3.2019 - Edit all annotations and information from the fifth neutrino research study within the

journal.

4.4.2019 - Submit Data Collection & Analysis Assignment

4.17.2019 - Rough Draft Design for Display board, with information and materials gathered and

assembled

4.22.2019 - Assemble and make the Display board

4.26.2019 - Write out scripts for video lectures on neutrino particle physics

4.30.2019 - Using the Data collection and analysis found in the meta-analysis assignment,

compose an outline for the final paper.

5.2.2019 - Record the first video lecture of the series of neutrino particle physics video lectures

as part of the final project. The videos should be generally 5-10 minutes long.

5.8.2019 - Record the second video lecture of the series of neutrino particle physics video

lectures as part of the final project. The videos should be generally 5-10 minutes long.

5.12.2019 - Record the third video lecture of the series of neutrino particle physics video

lectures as part of the final project. The videos should be generally 5-10 minutes long.

5.18.2019 - Record the fourth and final video lecture of the series of neutrino particle physics

video lectures as part of the final project. The videos should be generally 5-10 minutes long.

5.20.2019 - Advertise video lectures and schedule to give live lectures in an academic setting.

Publish the video lectures onto digital portfolio and online video sharing services.