Could you actually see a ghost particle hit your eye?
In short: Neutrinos are so elusive they pass through your body by the trillions every second. This video explores the physics of whether it is theoretically possible to perceive a neutrino interaction with your own vision.
While neutrinos are known as 'ghost particles' because they rarely interact with matter, they do occasionally collide with atoms. The video calculates the probability of a neutrino hitting your eye and producing enough Cherenkov radiation to be visible. This specific type of radiation peaks at approximately 420nm, which falls within the visible spectrum.
To actually see the event, the human eye would need to detect a specific threshold of photons—ranging from 1 to 7. Based on the physics used in neutrino detectors like Super-Kamiokande, the video suggests that while a single hit is unlikely to be seen, the phenomenon is theoretically possible if you have enough eyes to catch the rare occurrence.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What's The Probability You Have Seen A Neutrino?
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