The saga of a high-energy physics experiment – Public lecture by Dr. Jorge Morfin

Using neutrino experiments at Fermilab as an example, Dr. Jorge Morfin explains the path of a large physics experiment from inspiration through the proposal process to approval. The lecture is part II of the virtual lecture series, “How to do big science,” hosted by the Fermilab Arts & Lectures At Home Series. It was presented on Feb. 11, 2022. Each talk of the series is intended to stand alone and will be posted on the Fermilab YouTube channel.

Morfin is scientist emeritus at Fermilab and has been deeply involved with accelerator-based neutrino experiments for over four decades. He initiated the establishment of the MINERvA neutrino-nucleus scattering experiment and served as MINERvA collaboration co-spokesperson for six years. He has also been deeply involved in educational outreach and created the MINERvA Latin American Initiative, which has attracted multiple groups from various Latin American countries to come to Fermilab and conduct their research on MINERvA. He has mentored over 40 Latin American graduate students in obtaining their M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

Lectures that are part of the “How to do big science” series:

Part I: The unseen universe: challenges for theory and experiment, by Dr. Marcela Carena

Part II: The saga of a high-energy physics experiment – from inspiration to approval, by Dr. Jorge Morfin

Part III: I can’t believe we built the whole thing: The MINERvA experiment, by Dr. Deborah Harris

Part IV: Peer review and publication, by Dr. Boaz Klima

For more information on the Fermilab Arts & Lecture series, please visit:

[Saka_Mulia]

Great talk and a wonderful series. The amount of effort that goes in to projects like this is astounding.

[physicsdude]

why i feel that the logo of fermi lab says something special ...tell me the physics

[SpotterVideo]

Does the following quantum model agree with the Spinor Theory of Roger Penrose?

Quantum Entangled Twisted Tubules: "A theory that you can't explain to a bartender is probably no damn good." Ernest Rutherford

When we draw a sine wave on a blackboard, we are representing spatial curvature. Does a photon transfer spatial curvature from one location to another? Wrap a piece of wire around a pencil and it can produce a 3D coil of wire, much like a spring. When viewed from the side it can look like a two-dimensional sine wave. You could coil the wire with either a right-hand twist, or with a left-hand twist. Could Planck's Constant be proportional to the twist cycles. A photon with a higher frequency has more energy. (More spatial curvature). What if gluons are actually made up of these twisted tubes which become entangled with other tubes to produce quarks. (In the same way twisted electrical extension cords can become entangled.) Therefore, the gluons are actually a part of the quarks. Mesons are made up of two entangled tubes (Quarks/Gluons), while protons and neutrons would be made up of three entangled tubes. (Quarks/Gluons) The "Color Force" would be related to the XYZ coordinates (orientation) of entanglement. "Asymptotic Freedom", and "flux tubes" make sense based on this concept. Neutrinos would be made up of a twisted torus (like a twisted donut) within this model. Gravity is a result of a very small curvature imbalance within atoms. (This is why the force of gravity is so small.) Instead of attempting to explain matter as "particles", this concept attempts to explain matter more in the manner of our current understanding of the space-time curvature of gravity. If an electron has qualities of both a particle and a wave, it cannot be either one. It must be something else. Therefore, a "particle" is actually a structure which stores spatial curvature. Can an electron-positron pair (which are made up of opposite directions of twist) annihilate each other by unwinding into each other producing Gamma Ray photons.

Does an electron travel through space like a threaded nut traveling down a threaded rod, with each twist cycle proportional to Planck’s Constant? Does it wind up on one end, while unwinding on the other end? Is this related to the Higgs field? Does this help explain the strange ½ spin of many subatomic particles? Does the 720 degree rotation of a 1/2 spin particle require at least one extra dimension?

Alpha decay occurs when the two protons and two neutrons (which are bound together by entangled tubes), become un-entangled from the rest of the nucleons

. Beta decay occurs when the tube of a down quark/gluon in a neutron becomes overtwisted and breaks producing a twisted torus (neutrino) and an up quark, and the ejected electron. The phenomenon of Supercoiling involving twist and writhe cycles may reveal how overtwisted quarks can produce these new particles. The conversion of twists into writhes, and vice-versa, is an interesting process.

Gamma photons are produced when a tube unwinds producing electromagnetic waves.

Within this model a black hole could represent a quantum of gravity, because it is one cycle of spatial gravitational curvature. Therefore, instead of a graviton being a subatomic particle it could be considered to be a black hole. The overall gravitational attraction would be caused by a very tiny curvature imbalance within atoms.



In this model Alpha equals the compactification ratio within the twistor cone. 1/137

1= Hypertubule diameter at 4D interface
137= Cone’s larger end diameter at 3D interface

A Hypertubule gets longer or shorter as twisting occurs. 720 degrees per twist cycle.


How many neutrinos are left over from the Big Bang? They have a small mass, but they could be very large in number. Could this help explain Dark Matter?

[KaiseruSoze]

On the other hand, the sun is a much cheaper neutrino generator. If you could build a neutrino "telescope", and point it at the sun you should get a nice disc. If you had a deeper understanding of what a neutrino is.

[thomasasthma]

nucleo sythesis is the answer to anything

[airforcemax]

*¡Dr. Don Lincoln should be explaining this lecture!* - 8:37 am Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday, 9 March 2022 Common Era or CE formerly known as Ano Domini or AD

[ruttolomeo]

I believe I speak on behalf of everyone when I say THANK YOU for this masterfully crafted, informative and very extensive video, this specific type of information is almost impossible to come across for whoever is looking for it! And that wouldn’t be me. In fact, I believe life is way too short to spend 45min this way. Nevertheless, thanks.

[i.m.gurney]

My napkin,
Gravity is the Higgs Repulsive Force.
The Speed of Light/Speed of Free Energy (energy not bound locally) is a direct result/measure of the Higgs Repulsive Force.
The Higgs, well near pure Higgs, empty space, is at ground state & in Condensate. It repulses everything else. As matter is locally bound energy its component energies are repulsed in multiple directions, & it in effect does not repulse, so the Higgs does the next best thing & pustules matter together – Gravity.
Dark Energy is the Higgs Repulsive Force (Gravity).
Dark Matter is the Higgs Repulsive Force, well the pustule tension between pure Higgs (Vacuum of Space) & corrupted/dirty Higgs in the pustules.
Blackholes do not only lose energy via Hawking’s Radiation, they return energy to the Higgs Field via Gravitational Waves & possibly other methods pertaining to activities of the core, unknown.
Quantum Entanglement is due to the Higgs being in Condensate, but I have not properly resolved this in my head yet.
Note :- the Higgs in Condensate does not require Einstein, Rosen for Entanglement.

[karlesmcquade]

Does his job make him a Mighty "Morfin" Power Ranger?