A First! Neutrino Message Sent Through Ground

I like to post information about what is happening at Fermi Lab. First of all, I think it is great that we have this facility in Illinois. Second, my son works there. My future son-in-law does some of his work there, too.

The article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46748654/ns/technology_and_science-science/

For the first time, scientists have used neutrinos -- the exotic fundamental particles that routinely pass right through the earth -- to send a message through the ground.

Researchers have long been intrigued by the communication possibilities of neutrinos, because these particles can easily travel through matter, including a planet, without stopping, slowing down, or being misdirected.

snip

The researchers used the NuMi particle accelerator at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois, to create beams of neutrinos, which result when speeding protons collide into a wall of carbon atoms. (NuMi stands for "Neutrinos at the Main Injector.&quot

The scientists then sent this beam toward a neutrino detector about 1 kilometer away, buried in a cavern.


This is interesting, because it provides a possible method to communicate where normal methods don't work. It could be used to communicate with submarines. It could be used as a backup if a catastrophe or natural disaster destroyed existing communication infrastructure.