Tau neutrino

The tau neutrino is an electrically neutral elementary lepton paired with the tau. It interacts through the weak force and has a small, nonzero mass.

Weak interaction: A fundamental interaction mediated by the W and Z bosons, responsible for processes such as beta decay. Tau neutrinos interact with matter through this force, producing tau leptons in charged-current reactions.
DONUT experiment: A Fermilab experiment that reported the first direct observation of tau neutrino interactions in 2000. It established the tau neutrino through events consistent with tau production and decay.
Standard Model: The quantum field theory describing known elementary particles and three of the four fundamental interactions. It places the tau neutrino among the leptons and specifies its weak interactions.
IceCube Neutrino Observatory: A cubic-kilometer neutrino detector embedded in Antarctic ice at the South Pole. Its data can reveal tau-neutrino events from high-energy astrophysical neutrinos.
Electron neutrino: The electrically neutral lepton paired with the electron and one of the three neutrino flavors. Its charged-current interactions produce electrons rather than tau leptons.
Neutrino oscillation: The quantum-mechanical change of a neutrino's flavor as it propagates, caused by differences among neutrino masses. Oscillations show that tau neutrinos participate in flavor change and have nonzero mass.
DONUT anomaly: A 1970s event at Fermilab interpreted as possible evidence for a new neutral particle, later considered a tau-neutrino candidate. This early candidate preceded the direct observations that identified tau neutrinos.
Lepton: A family of elementary fermions that includes charged particles and electrically neutral neutrinos. The tau neutrino is one of six known leptons.
Astrophysical neutrino: A neutrino produced by energetic processes beyond Earth's atmosphere and solar system. Tau neutrinos reaching Earth can trace distant high-energy sources after flavor oscillation.
Muon neutrino: The electrically neutral lepton paired with the muon and one of the three neutrino flavors. Its charged-current interactions produce muons, which are lighter and longer-lived than taus.

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