Kajita

Definition

Kajita is a Japanese physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2015. He is known for his work on neutrinos, particularly their oscillation and mass.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Takaki Kajita's discovery of neutrino oscillations showed that neutrinos have mass.
2. He conducted his groundbreaking research at the Super-Kamiokande detector in Japan.
3. Kajita's findings were crucial for understanding particle interactions in the solar interior.
4. The discovery has implications for the Standard Model of particle physics, indicating it needs revisions.
5. Kajita shared the Nobel Prize with Arthur B. McDonald, who made complementary discoveries on neutrino behavior.

Review Questions

• What significant discovery did Kajita make about neutrinos?
• Where did Kajita conduct his pivotal experiments on neutrinos?
• Why was Kajita's discovery important for the Standard Model of particle physics?

Related terms

Neutrino: A subatomic particle with very low mass and no electric charge, which interacts only via the weak nuclear force.

Super-Kamiokande: A neutrino observatory located in Japan, used to detect and study neutrinos from various sources including the sun.

Neutrino Oscillation: The phenomenon where a neutrino changes its type (or flavor) as it travels through space.