A new three-flavor oscillation solution of the solar neutrino deficit in <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-parity violating supersymmetry

We present a solution of the solar neutrino deficit using three flavors of neutrinos and R-parity non-conserving supersymmetry. In this model, in vacuum, the is massless and unmixed, mass and mixing being restricted to the - sector only, which we choose in consistency with the requirements of the atmospheric neutrino anomaly. The flavor changing and flavor diagonal neutral currents present in the model and the three-flavor picture together produce an energy dependent resonance-induced - mixing in the sun. This mixing plays a key role in the new solution to the solar neutrino problem. The best fit to the solar neutrino rates and spectrum (1258-day SK and 241-day SNO data) requires a mass square difference of eV² in vacuum between the two lightest neutrinos. This solution cannot accommodate a significant day-night effect for solar neutrinos nor CP violation in terrestrial neutrino experiments. Received: 26 December 2001 / Revised version: 16 February 2002 / Published online: 26 July 2002     

Stability of the lepton-flavor mixing matrix against quantum corrections

Recent neutrino experiments suggest strong evidence of tiny neutrino masses and the lepton-flavor mixing. Neutrino-oscillation solutions for the atmospheric neutrino anomaly and the solar neutrino deficit can determine the texture of the neutrino mass matrix according to the neutrino mass hierarchies as Type A: , Type B: , and Type C: , where is the i-th generation neutrino mass. In this paper we study the stability of the lepton-flavor mixing matrix against quantum corrections for all three types of mass hierarchy in the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model with an effective dimension-five operator which gives the Majorana masses of neutrinos. The relative sign assignments of neutrino masses in each type play crucial role for the stability against quantum corrections. We find that the lepton-flavor mixing matrix of Type A is stable against quantum corrections, and that of Type B with the same (opposite) signs of and are unstable (stable). For Type C, the lepton-flavor-mixing matrix approaches the definite unitary matrix according to the relative sign assignments of the neutrino mass eigenvalues as the effects of quantum corrections become large enough to neglect the squared mass differences of neutrinos. Received: 24 June 1999 / Revised version: 23 December 1999 / Published online: 17 March 2000     

Neutrino textures in light of Super-Kamiokande data and a realistic string model

Motivated by the Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrino data, we discuss possible textures for Majorana and Dirac neutrino masses within the see-saw framework. There are two main purposes of this paper: first, to gain intuition into this area from a purely phenomenological analysis, and second, to explore to what extent it may be realized in a specific model. We comment initially on the simplified two-generation case, emphasizing that large mixing is not incompatible with a large hierarchy of mass eigenvalues. We also emphasize that renormalization-group effects may amplify neutrino mixing, and we present semi-analytic expressions for estimating this amplification. Several examples are then given of three-family neutrino mass textures, which may also accommodate the persistent solar neutrino deficit, with different assumptions for the neutrino Dirac mass matrices. We comment on a few features of neutrino mass textures arising in models with a U(1) flavour symmetry. Finally, we discuss the possible pattern of neutrino masses in a “realistic” flipped SU(5) model derived from string theory, illustrating how a desirable pattern of mixing may emerge. Both small- or large-angle MSW solutions are possible, while a hierarchy of neutrino masses appears more natural than near-degeneracy. This model contains some unanticipated features that may be relevant in other models also: The neutrino Dirac matrices may not be related closely to the quark mass matrices, and the heavy Majorana states may include extra gauge-singlet fields. Received: 6 November 1998 / Published online: 18 June 1999     

Neutrino masses and particle physics beyond the standard model

The evidence for non‐vanishing neutrino masses from solar and atmospheric neutrinos provides the first solid hint towards physics beyond the standard model. A full reconstruction of the neutrino spectrum may well provide a key to the theoretical structures underlying the standard model such as supersymmetry, grand unification or extra space dimensions. In this article we discuss the impact of absolute neutrinos masses on physics beyond the standard model. We review the information obtained from neutrino oscillation data and discuss the prospects of the crucial determination of the absolute neutrino mass scale, as well as the intriguing connection with the Z‐burst model for extreme‐energy cosmic rays.     

Neutrino mass and mixing implied by underground deficit of low energy muon-neutrino events

Recent observations of a deficit of cosmic ray muon-neutrino interactions in underground detectors suggest that the muon neutrinos may have oscillated to another state. We examine possible neutrino mass and mixing patterns, and their implications for vacuum and matter effects on solar neutrinos, on neutrinos passing through the earth, and on terrastrial neutrino beams. By invoking the see-saw mechanism of neutrino mass generation, we draw inferences on closure of the universe with neutrino masses, on the number of generations, on t-quark and fourth generation masses, and on the Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking scale. Testable predictions are suggested.     

Neutrino oscillations as a probe of dark energy

We consider a class of theories in which neutrino masses depend significantly on environment, as a result of interactions with the dark sector. Such theories of mass varying neutrinos were recently introduced to explain the origin of the cosmological dark energy density and why its magnitude is apparently coincidental with that of neutrino mass splittings. In this Letter we argue that in such theories neutrinos can exhibit different masses in matter and in vacuum, dramatically affecting neutrino oscillations. As an example of modifications to the standard picture, we consider simple models that may simultaneously account for the LSND anomaly, KamLAND, K2K, and studies of solar and atmospheric neutrinos, while providing motivation to continue to search for neutrino oscillations in short baseline experiments such as BooNE.     

Neutrino mixing and masses in a left–right model with mirror fermions

In the framework of a left–right model containing mirror fermions with gauge group SU(3) _C ⊗SU(2) _L ⊗SU(2) _R ⊗U(1) _Y′, we estimate the neutrino masses, which are found to be consistent with their experimental bounds and hierarchy. We evaluate the decay rates of the Lepton Flavor Violation (LFV) processes μ→eγ, τ→μγ and τ→eγ. We obtain upper limits for the flavor-changing branching ratios in agreement with their present experimental bounds. We also estimate the decay rates of heavy Majorana neutrinos in the channels N→W ^± l ^∓, N→Zν _l and N→Hν _l , which are roughly equal for large values of the heavy neutrino mass. Starting from the most general Majorana neutrino mass matrix, the smallness of active neutrino masses turns out from the interplay of the hierarchy of the involved scales and the double application of seesaw mechanism. An appropriate parameterization on the structure of the neutrino mass matrix imposing a symmetric mixing of electron neutrino with muon and tau neutrinos leads to tri-bimaximal mixing matrix for light neutrinos.     

Majorana neutrinos and same-sign dilepton production at LHC and in rare meson decays

We discuss same-sign dilepton production mediated by Majorana neutrinos in high-energy proton–proton collisions for at the LHC energy TeV, and in the rare decays of the , and B mesons of the type . For the pp reaction, assuming one heavy Majorana neutrino of mass , we present discovery limits in the plane where are the mixing parameters. Taking into account the present limits from low-energy experiments, we show that at LHC one has sensitivity to heavy Majorana neutrinos up to a mass TeV in the dilepton channels , and , but the dilepton states will not be detectable due to the already existing constraints from neutrinoless double beta decay. We work out a large number of rare meson decays, both for the light and heavy Majorana neutrino scenarios, and argue that the present experimental bounds on the branching ratios are too weak to set reasonable limits on the effective Majorana masses. Received: 24 April 2001 / Published online: 29 June 2001     

Neutrinoless double beta decay and heavy sterile neutrinos

The experimental rate of neutrinoless double beta decay can be saturated by the exchange of virtual sterile neutrinos, that mix with the ordinary neutrinos and are heavier than 200 MeV. Interestingly, this hypothesis is subject only to marginal experimental constraints, because of the new nuclear matrix elements. This possibility is analyzed in the context of the Type I seesaw model, performing also exploratory investigations of the implications for heavy neutrino mass spectra, rare decays of mesons as well as neutrino-decay search, LHC, and lepton flavor violation. The heavy sterile neutrinos can saturate the rate only when their masses are below some 10 TeV, but in this case, the suppression of the light-neutrino masses has to be more than the ratio of the electroweak scale and the heavy-neutrino scale; i.e., more suppressed than the naive seesaw expectation. We classify the cases when this condition holds true in the minimal version of the seesaw model, showing its compatibility (1) with neutrinoless double beta rate being dominated by heavy neutrinos and (2) with any light neutrino mass spectra. The absence of excessive fine-tunings and the radiative stability of light neutrino mass matrices, together with a saturating sterile neutrino contribution, imply an upper bound on the heavy neutrino masses of about 10 GeV. We extend our analysis to the Extended seesaw scenario, where the light and the heavy sterile neutrino contributions are completely decoupled, allowing the sterile neutrinos to saturate the present experimental bound on neutrinoless double beta decay. In the models analyzed, the rate of this process is not strictly connected with the values of the light neutrino masses, and a fast transition rate is compatible with neutrinos lighter than 100 meV.     

Nuclear responses for double-beta decays by hadron, photon, and neutrino probes and MOON experiment

Neutrino-less double-beta decays (0νββ) with the mass sensitivities of the solar and atmospheric ν masses are of great interest for studying the Majorana nature of neutrinos and the absolute mass spectrum as suggested by recent ν oscillation experiments. Here nuclear responses (nuclear matrix elements) for 0νββ are crucial. They are well studied experimentally by using charge-exchange, photo-nuclear and neutrino reactions. MOON(Mo Observatory Of Neutrinos) is a high sensitivity 0νβ β experiment with the mass sensitivity of an order of 30 meV. Experimental studies of the nuclear responses and the present status of MOON are briefly discussed. Presented by the author at the Workshop on calculation of double-beta-decay matrix elements (MEDEX’05), Corfu, Greece, September 26–29, 2005.     

Renormalization of seesaw neutrino masses in the standard model with two-Higgs doublets

Using the theoretical ambiguities inherent in the seesaw mechanism, we derive the new analytic expressions for both quadratic and linear seesaw formulae for neutrino masses at low energies, with either up-type quark masses or charged lepton masses. This is possible through full radiative corrections arising out of the renormalizations of the Yukawa couplings, the coefficients of the neutrino-mass-operator in the standard model with two-Higgs doublets, and also the QCD-QED rescaling factors below the top-quark mass scale, at one-loop level. We also investigate numerically the unification of top-b-τ Yukawa couplings at the scale M ₁=0.59×10⁸ GeV for a fixed value of tan β=58.77, and then evaluate the seesaw neutrino masses which are too large in magnitude to be compatible with the presently available solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillation data. However, if we consider a higher but arbitrary value of M ₁=0.59×10¹¹ GeV, the predictions from linear seesaw formulae with charged lepton masses, can accommodate simultaneousely both solar atmospheric neutrino oscillation data.     

Majorana neutrino masses in the three-flavor Pauli model

A special Majorana model for three neutrino flavors is developed on the basis of the Pauli transformation group. In this model, the neutrinos possess a partially conserved generalized lepton (Pauli) charge that makes it possible to discriminate between neutrinos of different type. It is shown that, within the model in question, a transition from the basic “mass” representation, where the average value of this charge is zero, to the representation associated with physical neutrinos characterized by specific Pauli “flavor” charges establishes a relation between the neutrino mixing angles θ _{mix, 12}, θ _{mix, 23}, and θ _{mix, 13} and an additional relation between the Majorana neutrino masses. The Lagrangian mass part, which includes a term invariant under Pauli transformations and a representation-dependent term, concurrently assumes a “quasi-Dirac” form. With allowance for these relations, the existing set of experimental data on the features of neutrino oscillations makes it possible to obtain quantitative estimates for the absolute values of the neutrino masses and the 2β-decay mass parameter m _ββ and a number of additional constraints on the neutrino mixing angles.     

Mass properties of active and sterile neutrinos in a phenomenological (3 + 1 + 2) model

A generalized model involving three active neutrinos and three sterile neutrinos of different mass, one being relatively heavy [(3 + 1 + 2) model], is considered on the basis of experimental data, which admit the existence of anomalies beyond the minimally extended standard model featuring three active neutrinos of different mass. Basic properties used to describe massive active and sterile neutrinos are studied along with methods for determining the absolute scale of neutrino masses and for estimating neutrino masses on the basis of available experimental data. In the approximation of CP conservation, admissible values of the elements of the neutrino mass matrix are found from numerical calculations versus the possible values of the mass of one of the sterile neutrinos. The dependences of the mass properties of the neutrinos on the sterile-neutrino mass are constructed with allowance for possible sterile-neutrino contributions. The respective results can be used to interpret and predict results of various neutrino experiments.     

Entropy, baryon asymmetry and dark matter from heavy neutrino decays

The origin of the hot phase of the early universe remains so far an unsolved puzzle. A viable option is entropy production through the decays of heavy Majorana neutrinos whose lifetimes determine the initial temperature. We show that baryogenesis and the production of dark matter are natural by-products of this mechanism. As is well known, the cosmological baryon asymmetry can be accounted for by leptogenesis for characteristic neutrino mass parameters. We find that thermal gravitino production then automatically yields the observed amount of dark matter, for the gravitino as the lightest superparticle and typical gluino masses. As an example, we consider the production of heavy Majorana neutrinos in the course of tachyonic preheating associated with spontaneous B−L breaking. A quantitative analysis leads to constraints on the superparticle masses in terms of neutrino masses: For a light neutrino mass of ¹⁰−5 eV the gravitino mass can be as small as 200 MeV, whereas a lower neutrino mass bound of 0.01 eV implies a lower bound of 9 GeV on the gravitino mass. The measurement of a light neutrino mass of 0.1 eV would rule out heavy neutrino decays as the origin of entropy, visible and dark matter.     

A 4-neutrino model with a Higgs triplet

We take as a starting point the Gelmini–Roncadelli model enlarged by a term with explicit lepton number violation in the Higgs potential and add a neutrino singlet field that is coupled via a scalar doublet to the usual leptons. This scenario allows us to take into account all three present indications in favor of neutrino oscillations provided by the solar, atmospheric, and LSND neutrino oscillation experiments. Furthermore, it suggests a model which reproduces naturally one of the two 4-neutrino mass spectra favored by the data. In this model, the solar neutrino problem is solved by large mixing MSW transitions, and the atmospheric neutrino problem by transitions of into a sterile neutrino. Received: 11 May 1999 / Published online: 3 February 2000     

Reconciling cold dark matter with COBE/IRAS plus solar and atmospheric neutrino data

We present a model where an unstable MeV Majorana tau neutrino can naturally reconcile the cold dark matter model (CDM) with cosmological observations of large and small scale density fluctuations and, simultaneously, with data on solar and atmospheric neutrinos. The solar neutrino deficit is explained through long wavelength, so-called just-so oscillations involving conversions of ν_e into both ν_μ and a sterile species ν_s , while atmospheric neutrino data are explained through ν_μ to ν_e conversions. Future long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, as well as some reactor experiments will test this hypothesis. The model is based on the spontaneous violation of a global lepton number symmetry at the weak scale. This symmetry plays a key role in generating the cosmologically required decay of the ν_τ with lifetime τ_ντ ≈ 10²-10⁴ seconds, as well as the masses and oscillations of the three light neutrinos ν_e, ν_μ and ν_s required in order to account for solar and atmospheric neutrino data. It also leads to the invisibly decaying Higgs signature that can be searched at LEP and future particle colliders.     

Trimuon production in \nuN-scattering as a probe of massive neutrinos

The lepton–number violating process \nu_\mu is studied for the first time in connection with Majorana neutrino masses of the second generation. The sensitivity for light and heavy Majorana neutrinos is investigated. The ratio with respect to the standard model charged current process is improved by some orders of magnitude if compared to previously discussed Majorana induced processes. Non–observation of this process in previous experiments allows to demand the effective mass to be GeV, being more stringent than previously discussed direct bounds, however still unnaturally high. Therefore, in the forseeable future, indirect bounds on effective masses other than \mbox{} will be more stringent. Received: 16 February 2000 / Revised version: 11 April 2000 / Published online: 6 July 2000     

On leptogenesis with two degenerate right-chiral neutrinos

We analyze the predictions of the most general version of the supersymmetric minimal seesaw model with only two right-chiral neutrinos, which are degenerate in masses at the scale of Grand Unification. We apply the renormalization group technique to the running of the masses of the right-chiral neutrinos and the neutrino Yukawa couplings and find that thermal leptogenesis can account for the observed baryon asymmetry of the Universe even with a low reheating temperature, allowing to overcome the gravitino problem. Presented at the XVI Indian Summer School “Understanding Neutrinos”, Prague, Czech Republic, September 8–13, 2004.     

Oscillating neutrinos: theory vs experiment

Possible hints on neutrino masses are reviewed. They come from the deficits in the solar as well as atmospheric neutrinos and from need of a significant amount of hot component in the dark matter of the universe. The role of three generation mixing in simultaneously solving the solar and atmospheric neutrino problem is discussed. All the three hints can be reconciled if three neutrinos are almost degenerate. Models for neutrino masses and mixing implied by the above hints are briefly discussed.     

Solar magnetohydrodynamic modes and parametric resonance in neutrino spin–flavor conversion

Consequences of parametric resonances on neutrino resonant spin–flavor precession (RSFP) arising from global magnetohydrodynamic waves in the Sun are investigated. We show that for typical magnetic field profiles which generate an RSFP solution to the solar neutrino anomaly, the effects of the parametric resonance can be found for neutrinos of which the energy is of order 0.1 to 1 MeV. This opens the possibility of investigating these effects using real time experiments, like Borexino or Hellaz. Received: 4 March 1999 / Published online: 8 December 1999