诺奖官网对2015年诺贝尔物理学奖得主梶田隆章的采访

Interview with Takaaki Kajita

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Hello.

 

[Adam Smith] Oh, hello, my name is Adam Smith, I’m calling from Nobelprize.org, the official website of the Nobel Prize. Congratulations on the award of this year’s Nobel Prize.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Oh, thank you very much. 

 

[Adam Smith] How did you hear the news?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, I just, well actually, when I received the phone call I was checking my e-mails.

 

[Adam Smith] In your office? Right. And what was your first reaction?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, that was really a surprise to me.

 

[Adam Smith] I imagine it is still sinking in.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Yes, yes, still kind of unbelievable.

 

[Adam Smith] You sound as if you are alone, are there not people around you yet?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, actually, I’m in a small room so no one around.

 

[Adam Smith] I’m sure that very soon you will be surrounded by people.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Thank you.

 

[Adam Smith] You’ve devoted your research career to the study of neutrinos and I just wanted to ask you what is it that makes neutrinos so fascinating for you?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Yeah, actually, I started my career in the so-called Kamiokande experiment. That was a proton decay experiment, but after finishing my thesis I wanted to improve my study on proton decay and I need to study atmospheric neutrinos because it is a background for proton decay, and I noticed that there is something strange happening there. So that is the beginning of my research on neutrinos.

 

[Adam Smith] Yeah. And what is the significance of your finding that neutrinos have mass?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, I think the significance is, this is clearly the physics that is beyond the standard model of particle physics.

 

[Adam Smith] Yes, it’s extending the standard model. And perhaps it explains some of this missing mass in the universe.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, yes, the observed mass by neutrinos in this experiment could be a little bit too small to explain the majority of the masses in the universe.

 

[Adam Smith] Aha, but maybe explains a little bit?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Yes, yes.

 

[Adam Smith] One of the nice things about your work is that you get to play with such amazing equipment, these collectors deep underground. It must be exciting, wonderful.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, yes, yes, actually as an experimentalist I was always excited in working in super Kamiokande and also Kamiokande experiments.

 

[Adam Smith] Amazing, amazing pieces of equipment. So what do you think is going to happen to you now? In the next few minutes and hours?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] No idea.

 

[Adam Smith] Have you ever dreamed of this moment before?

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Well, of course, well, as really a dream, maybe years, but not serious dreaming so far.

 

[Adam Smith] Well, it will be exciting to hear how it goes for you. We very much look forward to welcoming you to Stockholm in December when you come to receive your Nobel Prize.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Yes, thank you very much.

 

[Adam Smith] Thank you. Well, many congratulations.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Thank you very much.

 

[Adam Smith] I think you should probably enjoy this quiet time because I imagine it’s the last quiet time you’re going to get for a very long time.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Hmm, OK.

 

[Adam Smith] OK, thank you very much for speaking to me.

 

[Takaaki Kajita] Thank you very much. Goodbye.

 

[Adam Smith] Bye bye.