One the most thrilling physics discoveries of the past century has been called into question by a faulty fiber-optic connection. As reported by the BBC, in September 2011, a team of researchers from the UK's OPERA [Oscillation Project with Emulsion-Racking Apparatus] experiment officially claimed to have seen subatomic, EMF-resistant neutrino particles apparently travelling faster than the speed of light. But the researchers say they have now found two problems that may have affected their testing in opposing ways: one in their particle accelerator's timing gear, and one in an optical fiber connection.
A problem in the experiment's oscillator increased the measured time of the neutrinos' flight, calling into question previous faster-than-light effects. At the same time, a flawed fiber-optic connection linking the experiment's GPS signal and the particle accelerator's main clock had the effect of indicating a false increase in the neutrinos' apparent speed.
Neutrinos do not carry electric charge, which means that they are not affected by the electromagnetic forces that act on charged particles such as electrons and protons. Neutrinos are affected only by the weak sub-atomic force, of much shorter range than electromagnetism, and gravity, which is relatively weak on the subatomic scale. They are therefore able to travel great distances through matter without being affected by it.
MINOS is the concurrent U.S. particle physics experiment that is trying repeat the faster than light neutrino speed measurements.
Link: Faster-than-light neutrinos could be down to bad wiring (bbc.co.uk)
More from Interconnection World: Incapable connectors shut down Large Hadron Collider
I wonder who made the work?
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