Why are neutrinos from a type II supernova detected before photons?
A) Neutrinos travel faster than photons.
B) Neutrinos are easier to detect than photons.
C) Neutrinos are produced in the explosion before photons.
D) Neutrinos are emitted from the outer part of the star; photons come from the core.
E) Neutrinos escape from the star quickly because they hardly interact with matter; photons are delayed by interactions with matter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Neutrinos interact very weakly with matter, which allows them to escape from the supernova explosion very quickly. On the other hand, photons interact strongly with matter, and are largely trapped within the supernova for a while before finally diffusing out. Therefore, neutrinos are detected before photons from a type II supernova.

Why Are Neutrinos from a Type II Supernova Detected Before