Neutrinos: Introduction - Lecture 1

Explore the fascinating world of neutrinos in this introductory lecture by Andre De Gouvea. Delve into the fundamental properties of these elusive elementary particles, including their spin, electric charge, and tiny masses. Learn about the three distinct neutrino flavors and their ability to oscillate among themselves during propagation. Discover why neutrinos are crucial for understanding physics beyond the Standard Model and how their observation has confirmed the existence of phenomena not predicted by conventional theories. Gain insights into the challenges of studying neutrinos due to their weak interactions with matter and the specialized experiments required for their detection. Examine key open questions in neutrino physics, such as their potential Majorana nature, the existence of sterile neutrinos, mass ordering, and CP symmetry violation in oscillations. This lecture serves as an excellent foundation for students and researchers interested in exploring the vibrant field of neutrino physics and its implications for our understanding of the universe.