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Dear Dharumi:
You have reproduced in the IPAC blog site a news that appeared in The Hindu. That is good service. Congratulations. Wish you all the best in continuing your service to save American College and to restore the name and fame of the College. Like the legendary Dharumi you may want to seek the help of Lord Siva to know more about Neutrino to win a prize. Here is a neutrino size introduction to neutrino form an old Physics teacher but follower of Vishnu. I hope you don't mind. You may share it with other readers of IPAC if you wish.
It was in 1931 Pauli, a famous Physicist, postulated the existence of a mass less charge less particle called neutrino to solve a problem relating to conservation of energy and momentum in beta decay associated with radioactivity. (Sorry I cannot make it simpler than this. I hope you are still with me). That particle is now known as electron-neutrino because two more cousins of the original Pauli's neutrino have been subsequently predicted, detected and given different but similar names.Our sun is the most powerful source of electron-neutrinos. They are the by-product in the nuclear reaction that takes place in the sun releasing the energy we get from the sun. It has been estimated that 10 000 000 000 neutrinos reach every square centimeter of the earth every second! Experiments have been conducted for a long time to study those particles. Since they are mixed with several other particles and radiations (cosmic rays) they have to be filtered. The ground over deep mines and solid rocks can filter the other particles and radiations leaving neutrinos alone for study. The earliest location for research in solar neutrinos was in Homestake gold mines in in South Dakota in USA. We also had an experimental setup deep in the deep Kolar gold mines for similar experiments before the mines were closed. The proposed INO laboratory in the hills of Theni district near Madurai is God sent. I hope the project comes through without any problem.
Tamilnadu has been very unlucky when it comes to establishment of world class research facilities. The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory established during the British days was well known for its work and was recognized all over the world. There was a move to elevate it and to locate the Indian Institute of Astrophysics there. They needed extra land for the project which was denied. The location of IIA was shifted almost overnight to Bangalore, temporarily accommodated in Raman Research Institute before it moved to its own premises in Koramangala near Bangalore. I wish the INO project does not meet the same fate. If it is established there is a good chance of having a first world class research facility like CERN in Geneva near Madurai. Best of luck for all those working for the success of the project. Hats off to Principal Chinnaraj Joseph for involving The American College in the project. Is the Physics Department of the College hiding behind him? Srinivasan
2 comments:
A nice picture. The bell tower of the College is a unique construction. One should find out when it was build and by whom. Many students and faculty will remember this as a monument reminding them of their association with the College. I am one. Thank you for including the picture in the IPAC blog site. As I type this I feel the ringing tone of the bell.
the previous comment is from Prof. V.Srinivasan
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