Fermi lab studies neutrino disappearance

BATAVIA, Ill., March 30 (UPI) -- An international collaboration of scientists at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory announced Thursday the first results of a new neutrino experiment.

Sending a high-intensity beam of muon neutrinos from the lab's site in Batavia, Ill., through the ground to a particle detector in Soudan, Minn., scientists observed the disappearance of a significant fraction of the neutrinos.

Scientists said the Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search, or MINOS, observation was consistent with an effect known as neutrino oscillation, in which neutrinos change from one kind to another.

"Only a year ago we launched the MINOS experiment," said Fermilab Director Pier Oddone. "It is great to see that the experiment is already producing important results, shedding new light on the mysteries of the neutrino."

The MINOS project includes about 150 scientists, engineers, technical specialists and students from 32 institutions in Brazil, France, Greece, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.