Neutrino physics at the turn of the millennium

I discuss the implications of the latest data on solar and atmospheric neutrinos which strongly indicate the need for physics beyond the Standard Model. I review the theoretical options for reconciling these data in terms of three-neutrino oscillations. Even though not implied by the data, bimaximal models of neutrino mixing emerge as an attractive possibility. Supersymmetry with broken R-parity provides a predictive way to incorporate it, opening the possibility of testing neutrino anomalies at high-energy collider experiments such as the LHC or at the upcoming long-baseline or neutrino factory experiments. Reconciling, in addition, the hint provided by the LSND experiment requires a fourth, light sterile, neutrino. The simplest theoretical scenarios are the most symmetric ones, in which two of the four neutrinos are maximally mixed and lie at the LSND scale, while the others are at the solar mass scale. The lightness of the sterile neutrino, the nearly maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing, and the generation of Δm _⊙ ² &; Δm _atm ² all follow naturally from the assumed lepton-number symmetry and its breaking. These two basic schemes can be distinguished at neutral-current-sensitive solar &; atmospheric neutrino experiments such as the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. However, underground experiments have not yet proven neutrino masses, since there is a variety of alternative mechanisms. For example, flavor changing interactions can play an important role in the explanation of solar and of contained atmospheric data and could be tested through effects such as μ → e+γ, μ-e conversion in nuclei, unaccompanied by neutrino-less double beta decay. Conversely, the room is still open for heavy unstable neutrinos. A short-lived ν_μ might play a role in the explanation of the atmospheric data. Finally, in the presence of a sterile neutrino v_s, a long-lived ν_τ in the MeV range could delay the time at which the matter and radiation contributions to the energy density of the Universe become equal, reducing the density fluctuations on the smaller scales and rescuing the standard cold-dark-matter scenario for structure formation. In this case, the light v_e ν_μ, and v_s would account for the solar and atmospheric data.     

Higgs bosons and neutrinos in the left-right model

The left-right asymmetric model featuring the bidoublet and two triplets of Higgs fields is investigated. It was established that, from an analysis of the reaction l ^?γ → W ^?ν_l, it is possible to deduce not only information about the properties of the singly charged Higgs bosons $\tilde \delta ^{( - )} $ and h ^(?) but also an answer to the question of whether the neutrino is a Majorana or a Dirac particle. The processes $f_i \bar f_j \to \Delta _1^{( - - )} \tilde \delta ^{( + )} $ and e^?μ^? → Δ _1,2 ^(—) γ leading to the production of doubly charged Higgs bosons are investigated. It is shown that information about the properties of singly charged Higgs bosons can also be obtained by studying the ultrahighenergy cosmic neutrinos from the reaction e ^?ν _e →μ^?ν_μ.     

Prompt neutrino production in a proton beam-dump experiment

In the interactions of 400 GeV/c protons with copper nuclei, a flux of prompt neutrinos is observed. The reactions produced by these neutrinos in our apparatus appear consistent with those of electron- and muon-neutrinos. The prompt neutrino fluxes are interpreted as being due to associated production and subsequent semileptonic decay of charmed hadrons. The prompt flux ratio \(\bar v_\mu /v_\mu = 0.46_{ - 0.16}^{ + 0.21} \) suggests a sizeable production of charmed baryons near the forward direction. The ratio of prompte ^?+e ⁺ toµ ^?+µ ⁺ event rates is 0.64 _?0.15 ^+0.22 , where unity is expected frome-μ universality.     

Electroweak parameters from a high statistics neutrino nucleon scattering experiment

The final results from the WA 1/2 neutrino experiment in the 1984 CERN 160 GeV narrow band beam are presented. The ratiosR _ν and \(R_{\bar v} \) of neutral to charged current interaction rates of neutrinos and antineutrinos in iron are measured to beR _ν=0.3072±0.0033 and \(R_{\bar v} \) =0.382±0.016. A value of the electroweak parameter sin² θ _w = 1 ?m _W ² /m _Z ² is extracted fromR _ν. The result is sin² θ _w =0.228+0.013(m _c ?1.5)±0.0003 (theor.) wherem _c is the mass of the charmed quark in GeV form _t =60 GeV,M _H =100 GeV, ρ=1. CombiningR _ν and \(R_{\bar v} \) one obtains a value for ρ=0.991+0.023(m _c ?1.5)±0.020(exp.). Alternatively,R _ν and \(R_{\bar v} \) yield a precise value of the ratio of intermediate vector boson massesm _W /m _Z =0.880?0.007(m _c ?1.5)±0.002(exp.)±0.002(theor.). Comparison of these results with those from direct measurements of the vector boson masses are presented. In a model-independent analysis the left- and right-handed neutral current coupling constants,g _L ² andg _R ² , are determined.     

Conserved-vector-current hypothesis and the\bar v_e e^ - \to \pi ^ - \pi ^0 process

Based on the conserved-vector-current (CVC) hypothesis and a four-ρ-resonance unitary and analytic VMD model of the pion electromagnetic form factor, theσ _tot(E _v ^lab ) and dσdE _π ^lab of the weak \(\bar v_e e^ - \to \pi ^ - \pi ^0\) process are predicted theoretically for the first time. Their experimental approval could verify the CVC hypothesis for all energies above the two-pion threshold. Since, unlike the electromagnetic e⁺e^?→π⁺π^? process, there is no isoscalar vector-meson contribution to the weak \(\bar v_e e^ - \to \pi ^ - \pi ^0\) reaction, accurate measurements of theσ _tot(E _v ^lab ) that moreover is strengthened with energyE _v ^lab linearly could solve now a widely discussed problem of the mass specification of the first excited state of theρ(770) meson. As a by-product, an equality \(\sigma _{tot} (\bar v_e e^ - \to \pi ^ - \pi ^0 ) = \sigma _{tot} (e^ + e^ - \to \pi ^ - \pi ^0 )\) is predicted for \(\sqrt s \approx 70 GeV\) .     

A study ofv e −v μ universality and search for neutrino oscillations

In the SKAT neutrino bubble chamber experiment at the Serpukhov accelerator we observe 83 events with electrons and no further lepton in the final state. Comparing the ratio of electron to muon charged current events at energies 3<E _v <30 GeV with that expected fromv _e -beam background assuming lepton universality we find \(R = (N_{e^ - } /N_{\mu ^ - } )_{\exp } /(N_{e^ - } /N_{\mu ^ - } )_{calc} = 0.98 \pm 0.15\) . Furthermore we compare experimental observations and theoretical expectations for some differential distributions of the electron-neutrino charged current reaction. No significant deviation from lepton universality is found. Looking in the charged current reaction for oscillations of muon to electron type neutrinos we find no effect down to the 90% confidence limits Δm ² =1.3 eV² at sin²2θ=1 and sin²2θ=2.5·10^?3 at Δm ²=60 eV².     

A simple modification of the maximal mixing scenario for three light neutrinos

We suggest a simple modification of the maximal mixing scenario (withS ₃ permutation symmetry) for three light neutrinos. Our neutrino mass matrix has smaller permutation symmetryS ₂(ν _μ ?ν _e ), and is consistent with all neutrino experiments except the³⁷Cl experiment. The resulting mass eigenvalues for three neutrinos arem ₁≈(2.55?1.27)×10^?3eV,m _2,3≈(0.71?1.43)eV for Δm _LSND ² =0.5?2.0eV². Then these light neutrinos can account for ～(2.4?4.8)% (6.2?12.4%) of the dark matter forh=0.8 (0.5). Our model predicts theν _μ →ν _τ oscillation probability in the range sensitive to the future experiments such as CHORUS and NOMAD.     

Photogeneration of neutrinos and axions under the stimulating effect of a strong magnetic field

Photogeneration of neutrinos and axions at nuclei, $\gamma (Ze) \uparrow \gamma (\nu \bar \nu ),\gamma a$ , and inelastic photon-photon scattering, $\gamma \gamma \uparrow \gamma (\nu \bar \nu ),\gamma a$ , are considered in the 2D covariant theory being developed for calculating matrix elements of Feynman diagrams in a strong magnetic field. Since the matrix elements of four-pole diagrams are linear functions of the magnetic induction B, the contribution of the radiative photogeneration of neutrinos at nuclei to the luminosity of magnetic neutron stars at early stages of their evolution may compete with URCA processes for values of B ～ (10³–10⁴)B ₀ (B ₀ = m ₂ ^e /|e| = 4.41 × 10¹³ G). The upper estimate of the axion mass obtained from the condition of dominance of the neutrino luminosity over the axion luminosity for the proposed values of temperature and magnetic induction is in accord with other independent results.     

QCD analysis of non-singlet electromagnetic structure functions

A direct analysis of all data on the nonsinglet combination of electromagnetic structure functionsF ₂ ^p ?F ₂ ⁿ is shown to yield a value of the QCD scale-breaking parameter \(\Lambda _{\overline {{\rm M}S} } = 0.36 \pm 0.16\) Gev, in good agreement with that obtained from non-singlet neutrino data. The ratiod _v /u _v , extracted using the results of a previous neutrino analysis, shows an excess of up-quarks to down-quarks of about a factor of five at largex.     

Form factor π0 → γ* + γ* at different photon virtualities

The π⁰ γγ vertex for virtual photons of squared masses q ₁ ² and q ₂ ² plays a vital rôle in several physical processes; for example for q ₁ ² < 0, q ₂ ² < 0, in the two-photon physics reaction e ⁺ e ^? → e ⁺ e ^?π⁰, and for q ₁ ² > 0, q ₂ ² > 0, in the annihilation process e ⁺ e ^? → π⁰ l ⁺l^?. It is also of interest because of its link to the axial anomaly. We suggest a new approach to this problem. We have obtained a closed analytic expression for the vertex in the limit in which at least one of ¦q ₁ ² ¦ and ¦q ₂ ² ¦ is large for arbitrary fixed values of the ratio q ₁ ² /q ₂ ² . We compare our results with those obtained previously by Brodsky and Lepage. It should be straightforward to test our predictions experimentally.     

Matter induced neutrino decay and solar antineutrinos

The properties of matter-induced neutrino decay with majoron emission are analysed in some details for the cases of Majorana, ZKM and Dirac neutrinos. The result of such a decay of solarv _e 's in the sun interior could be the appearance of \(\bar \nu _e \) flux. Assuming that the neutrinos have only standard weak interactions, the solar \(\bar \nu _e \) flux can be at the border of detectability for the future large volume detectors like Borex or Super-Kamiokande. However, the \(\bar \nu _e \) signal can be considerably larger, provided the neutrinos have new non-standard interactions with matter.     

Investigation of N 2 + (C 2Σ u + → X 2Σ g + fluorescence excited through auger decay of the 1s −1π* resonance

A theoretical investigation of N ₂ ⁺ (C ²Σ _u ⁺ → X ²Σ _g ⁺ molecular fluorescence excited through the Auger decay of the 1s ^?1π* resonance is carried out. The fluorescence cross sections are calculated with due regard for the dependence of the matrix element of the C → X dipole transition on the internuclear distance, the interference between channels of excitation via different vibrational levels v _r of the 1s ^?1π* resonance, the rotational structure of the fluorescence band, and the predissociation of the N ₂ ⁺ C ²Σ _u ⁺ v′ ≥3) states. The calculated cross sections are in good agreement with the experimental results of recent measurements. The results of the calculations have demonstrated that the observed dependence of the cross section of the (C ²Σ _u ⁺ (v′) → X ²Σ _g ⁺ (v″) fluorescence on the excitation energy and the fluorescence wavelength for a group of bands with equal values of the difference Δv = v′ ? v″ is associated with transitions between the vibrational levels of the electronic states involved in the excitation and subsequent cascade decay of the 1s ^?1π* resonance: N₂ (v ₀ = 0) → N*₂(1s ^?1π*(v _r)) ? N ₂ ⁺ : (C ²Σ _u ⁺ (v′) → X ²Σ _g ⁺ (v″).     

Scaling multiplicities of h-p collisions toe + e −→π±+... by the Fermi-Landau law

The similarity of rapidity distributions of hadrons frompp and $\bar p$ p withe ⁺ e ^?→π^±+... implies a scaling forE _cm, reflecting the quark-quark interaction of particle production by $\bar p$ /p+p. This scaling relates the meson multiplicity fromh+p→m $\bar m$ +... to the Fermi-Landau law $n_{ch} = a\sqrt {E_{cm} } $ fore ⁺ e ^? collisions, without free-parameters, threshold energy being taken into account including the mass of quarks constituent of the projectile and the target, the coefficient behaves like bremsstrahlung a～1/m ².     

Bloch electron dynamics

New equations of motion for a Bloch electron [momentum p=h k,energy ε _n(p),zone number n, charge -e]: $$m_j \frac{{dv_j }}{{dt}} = - e(E + v \times B)_j $$ are proposed, where v≡?ε_n(p)/?p is the velocity, and {m_j}are the principal masses m _j ^? 1=?²ε_n/?p _j ² along the normal and the two principal axes of curvatures at each point of the constant-energy surface represented by ε=ε_n(p).Their advantages over the prevalent equations of motion where the left-hand-side is replaced by hk _j are demonstrated by examining de Haas-van Alphen oscillations and orientation-dependent cyclotron resonance peaks.     

Hadronic contributions to (g−2) of the leptons and to the effective fine structure constant α(M Z 2 )

The new experiment planned at Brookhaven to measure the anomalous magnetic moment of the muona _μ≡(g _μ?2)/2 will improve the present accuracy of 7 ppm by about a factor of 20. This requires a careful reconsideration of the theoretical uncertainties of theg?2 predictions, which are dominated by the error of the contribution from the light quarks to the photon vacuum polarization. This issue is cruicial also for the precise determination of the running fine structure constant at theZ-peak as LEP/SLC experiments continue to increase their precision. In this paper we present an updated analysis of the hadronic vacuum polarization using all presently availablee ⁺e^? data. This seems to be justified because previous work on the subject was based to some extent on preliminary or incomplete experimental data. Contributions from different energy ranges are presented separately forg?2 of the muon and the τ-lepton and for α(M _Z ² ). We obtain the resultsa _μ ^had* =(725±16)×10^?10 anda _τ ^had* =(351±10)×10^?8, where the asterisk indicates the dressed (renormalization group improved) value. For the effective fine structure constant atM _Z=91.1888 GeV we obtainΔα _had ⁽⁵⁾ =0.0280±0.0007 and α(M _Z ² )^?1=128.896±0.090. Further improvement in the accuracy of theoretical predictions which depend on the hadronic vacuum polarization requires more precise measurements ofe ⁺e^? cross-sections at energies below about 12 GeV in future experiments.     

MeanM-subshell fluorescence yields atZ=88, 90, 92, and 94

M x-ray —L x-ray coincidence measurements with high resolution, cooled Si(Li) x-ray detectors were made on transitions following the alpha decays of²²⁸Th,²³²U,²³⁸Pu, and²⁴⁴Cm, in order to determine the meanM-subshell fluorescence yields. The values obtained are:v ₄ ^M =0.032±0.002, andv ₅ ^M =0.024±0.002 atZ=88;v ₁ ^M =0.038±0.003,v ₄ ^M =0.042±0.002, andv ₅ ^M =0.038±0.002 atZ=90;v ₁ ^M =0.047±0.002,v ₄ ^M =0.048±0.002, andv ₅ ^M =0.044±0.002 atZ=92;v ₁ ^M =0.066±0.002,v ₄ ^M =0.062±0.002, andv ₅ ^M =0.063±0.002 atZ=94. The quantityΩ ₁ ^M +f ₁₂ ^MΩ ₂ ^M was measured as (56±10)×10^?4, (62±12)×10^?4, (99±18) ×10^?4, and (93±15)×10^?4 forZ=88, 90, 92, and 94, respectively, which agree well with the calculations of McGuire. The radiativeL ₁-L ₃ transition intensity was measured for the four atomic numbers and found to be consistently less than the calculations of Scofield by about 45 percent.     

Diffractive production of charmed strange mesons by neutrinos and antineutrinos

The diffractive production of charmed strangeD _s ^* and possiblyD _s mesons by neutrinos and antineutrinos on nucleons in hydrogen, deuterium and neon targets is observed. The slope parameter of thet distribution is 3.3±0.8 (GeV)^?2. The production rate per charged current neutrino interaction with an isoscalar target times the D _s ⁺ →φτ⁺ branching fraction is (1.03±0.27)×10^?4.     

Overview on neutrinos and the Daya Bay experiment

Neutrinos are elementary particles in the Standard Model. Neutrino oscillation is a quantum mechanical phenomenon beyond the Standard Model. Neutrino oscillation can be described by two independent mass-squared differences Δm ₂₁ ² , Δm ₃₁ ² (or Δm ₃₂ ² ) and a 3 × 3 unitary matrix, containing three mixing angles θ ₁₂, θ ₂₃, θ ₁₃, and one charge-parity (CP) phase. θ ₁₂ is about 34° and determined by solar neutrino experiments and the reactor neutrino experiment KamLAND. θ ₂₃ is about 45° and determined by atmospheric neutrino experiments and accelerator neutrino experiments. θ ₁₃ can be measured by either accelerator or reactor neutrino experiments. On Mar. 8, 2012, the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment reported the first observation of non-zero θ ₁₃ with 5.2 standard deviations. In June, with 2.5× previous data, Daya Bay improved the measurement of sin²2θ ₁₃ = 0.089 ± 0.010(stat) ± 0.005(syst).     

Search for CP violation in Z0 → τ + τ − and an upper limit on the weak dipole moment of the τ lepton

An improved test of invariance in the reaction e⁺e^? τ ⁺ τ ^? on the Z0 peak is performed using the data sample recorded between 1991 and 1995 with the OPAL detector at LEP. Optimal observables, requiring the reconstruction of the τ flight direction and spin, have been used for different final state topologies. From the non-observation of violation we derive 95% confidence level upper limits on the real and imaginary parts of the weak dipole moment of the τ lepton of |Re(d _τ ^w (m _Z ² | < 5.6 × 10^?18 e cm and |Im(d _τ ^w (m _Z ² ))| < 1.5 × 10^?17 e cm, respectively.