If neutrinos were considered the particle portion of the wave-particle duality of light, similar to how air is the particle for sound waves, several significant changes would occur in physics. Here are some of the notable implications:
Neutrino properties: Neutrinos are electrically neutral and have a tiny mass compared to other fundamental particles. If they were associated with the particle aspect of light, it would mean that light waves would carry mass and exhibit properties similar to neutrinos. This would challenge our current understanding of light as massless particles.
Speed of light: Neutrinos have been observed to have finite velocities, but their speeds are extremely close to the speed of light in vacuum. If neutrinos were associated with the particle aspect of light, it would imply that the speed of light itself could be influenced by its interaction with the medium, similar to how sound waves travel at different speeds in different materials.
Wave-particle duality of light: The wave-particle duality of light, which is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics, would undergo significant reinterpretation. The duality suggests that light can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior. If neutrinos were the particles associated with light, it would imply that light waves are composed of neutrino particles, just as sound waves are composed of air particles. This would require reevaluating the nature of electromagnetic radiation and its particle-wave nature.
Interactions and detection: Neutrinos are weakly interacting particles, meaning they interact very rarely with matter. If neutrinos were associated with light, it would imply that light particles would also have weak interactions, which would have implications for their detection and interaction with detectors. It could potentially change the way we detect and study light, as well as the behavior of light in various experimental setups.
Energy and momentum conservation: Neutrinos have been observed to carry energy and momentum, and their interactions obey energy and momentum conservation laws. If they were associated with the particle aspect of light, it would imply that energy and momentum conservation would have to be considered at both the wave and particle levels for light. This could have implications for the understanding of energy transfer and conservation in light-matter interactions.
It's important to note that the scenario you described is purely speculative and hypothetical. Currently, our understanding of light is based on the concept of photons as the particles associated with electromagnetic waves. Neutrinos, on the other hand, are distinct particles with their own properties and interactions. The wave-particle duality of light, as currently understood, does not involve neutrinos.