The Pontecorvo formula

The Pontecorvo formula describes how neutrinos, tiny particles produced in nuclear reactions, can change from one type (or "flavor") to another as they travel. This phenomenon, called neutrino oscillation, occurs because neutrinos have a quantum property called mixing. The formula mathematically relates the probability of a neutrino changing flavor to factors like the distance traveled, the neutrino's energy, and differences in their mass states. In essence, it predicts how likely it is that a neutrino detected here on Earth started out as a different flavor than what you observe, helping scientists understand these elusive particles better.