OPERA neutrinos and superluminal helical motion

TL;DR

This paper explores how neutrinos with non-zero mass could theoretically achieve superluminal speeds through helical motion at high momentum, inspired by experimental hints of faster-than-light neutrinos.

Contribution

It proposes a novel mechanism involving helical motion to explain potential superluminal neutrino velocities, extending current understanding of neutrino physics.

Findings

Helical motion can, in principle, lead to superluminal velocities for massive particles.

The hypothesis is motivated by experimental results from MINOS and OPERA suggesting superluminal neutrinos.

Provides a theoretical framework for future experimental verification.

Abstract

We pinpoint how a subatomic particle with non-zero mass may attain, in principle, velocities faster-than-light by travelling in helical motion in the limit of very large momentum. This is an educated guess by virtue of the MINOS and OPERA experiments on eventual superluminal propagation of neutrinos.