1110.3783 (Antonio Palazzo)

A conceptual issue on the OPERA neutrino velocity measurement    [PDF]

Antonio Palazzo

We discuss a conceptual issue concerning the OPERA neutrino velocity
measurement, in connection with the statistical method employed for the
inference of the neutrino time of flight. We expound the theoretical framework
that underlies the delicate statistical procedure illustrating its salient
aspects. In particular, we show that the order of the two operations of sum and
normalization used to combine the single waveforms so as to build the global
PDF (as needed for the first measurement made with the 10.5 microseconds-long
proton waveforms) is a critical point. We also illustrate how a more efficient
Monte Carlo simulation able to test the issue in question should be designed.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.3783