vacuum oscillation

Vacuum oscillation refers to the phenomenon in quantum physics where particles, such as neutrinos, change their type or "flavor" as they travel through space, even in a "vacuum" where no matter exists. This occurs because each particle can be described as a blend of different states, and as they move, the probabilities of observing each state shift, leading to the observed oscillation. This concept is crucial for understanding fundamental properties of particles and has implications for physics, including the behavior of neutrinos from the sun and nuclear reactions.