neutrino mixing

Neutrino mixing is a phenomenon where the three types of neutrinos—electron, muon, and tau—are not fixed particles but can transform into each other as they travel. This occurs because their "flavor" states (how they interact) are related to their "mass" states (their energy levels) through a mathematical framework called the mixing matrix. As neutrinos move, their different mass components interfere, causing them to change identities. This process explains why we detect fewer neutrinos from the sun than expected and has important implications for understanding fundamental particle physics.