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MixedNuts comments on OPERA Confirms: Neutrinos Travel Faster Than Light - Less Wrong Discussion

10 Post author: XiXiDu 18 November 2011 09:58AM

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Tags: ftl physics

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Comment author: MixedNuts 18 November 2011 10:51:33AM 11 points [-]

From the Science 20 link:

It is necessary here to note that since distance from source to detector and time offsets necessary to determine the travel time of neutrinos have not been remeasured, the related systematics (estimated as well as -possibly- underestimated ones) are unchanged. The measurement therefore is only a "partial" confirmation of the earlier result: it is consistent with it, but could be just as wrong as the other.

Yeah, that's probably where they screwed up. (Bet $10, even odds?)

Comment author: Emile 18 November 2011 04:37:40PM 4 points [-]

I take the bet. So if it's determined that an error in distance measurement from source to detector is the source of the problem, I lose, and if another explanation is found (deliberate fraud, not correcting for relativistic effects, some guys show up from the future and explain a new unified quantum string gravity theory that explains all), I win.

€10, even odds?

Comment author: MixedNuts 18 November 2011 05:08:18PM 2 points [-]

an error in distance measurement from source to detector is the source of the problem

That's narrower than what I'm offering. For example, the Science 20 article points out a possible error in the refraction index of the Gran Sasso light guide. Your side of the bet (if you still want to take it) could be rephrased as "In whichever explanation is found, they had the source-detector distance and all time offsets right (or knowingly lied about them)".

Also I reserve the right to renegotiate if the exchange rate goes weird before either of us hears the explanation.

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