40 MCi tritium source for experiments with low energy neutrino

The artificial tritium source of 40 MCi activity was developed for the scattering experiment to measure the electron antineutrino magnetic moment. We present R&D results which specify source design and physical parameters, its experimental effectiveness and guarantee safety during its life-cycle. Relevant technological issues are featured.     

Neutrino scattering on atomic electrons in searches for the neutrino magnetic moment

The scattering of a neutrino on atomic electrons is considered in the situation where the energy transferred to the electrons is comparable to the characteristic atomic energies, as relevant to the current experimental search for the neutrino magnetic moment. The process is induced by the standard electroweak interaction as well as by the possible neutrino magnetic moment. Quantum-mechanical sum rules are derived for the inclusive cross section at a fixed energy deposited in the atomic system, and it is shown that the differential over the energy transfer cross section is given, modulo very small corrections, by the same expression as for free electrons, once all possible final states of the electronic system are taken into account. Thus, the atomic effects effectively cancel in the inclusive process.     

SNO results and neutrino magnetic moment solution to the solar neutrino problem

We have analysed the solar neutrino data obtained from chlorine, gallium and Super-Kamiokande (SK) experiments (1258 days) and also the new results that came from Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) charge current (CC) and elastic scattering (ES) experiments considering that the solar neutrino deficit is due to the interaction of neutrino transition magnetic moment with the solar magnetic field. We have also analysed the moments of the spectrum of scattered electrons at SK. Another new feature in the analysis is that for the global analysis, we have replaced the spectrum by its centroid.     

Magnetic correction to the anomalous magnetic moment of electrons

We investigate the leading order correction of anomalous magnetic moment (AMM) to electrons in a weak magnetic field and find that the magnetic correction is negative and magnetic field dependent, indicating a magnetic catalysis effect for the electron gas. In the laboratory, to measure the g − 2, the magnitude of the magnetic field B is several T, and correspondingly the magnetic correction to the AMM of electron/muon is around 10⁻³⁴/10⁻⁴², therefore the magnetic correction can be safely neglected in the current measurement. However, when the magnitude of the magnetic field strength is comparable with the electron mass, the magnetic correction of the electron's AMM will become considerable. This general magnetic correction to the charged fermion's AMM can be extended to study quantum chromodynamic matter under a strong magnetic field.     

New limits on radiative sterile neutrino decays from a search for single photons in neutrino interactions

It has been recently shown that excess events observed by the LSND and MiniBooNE neutrino experiments could be interpreted as a signal from the radiative decay of a heavy sterile neutrino _νh${\nu }_h$ produced in _νμ${\nu }_{\mu }$ neutral-current-like neutrino interactions. If the _νh${\nu }_h$ exist, it would be also produced by the _νμ${\nu }_{\mu }$ beam from the CERN SPS in the neutrino beam line shielding. The _νh${\nu }_h$?s would penetrate the shielding and be observed through the _νh→γν${\nu }_h\to \gamma \nu$ decay followed by the photon conversion into e⁺e⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}$ pair in the active target of the NOMAD detector. The _νh${\nu }_h$?s could be also produced in the iron of the magnetic spectrometer of the CHORUS detector, located just in front of NOMAD. Considering these two sources of _νh${\nu }_h$?s we set new constraints on _νh${\nu }_h$ properties and exclude part of the LSND/MiniBooNE _νh${\nu }_h$ parameter space using bounds on single photons production in neutrino reactions recently reported by the NOMAD Collaboration. We find that broad bands in the parameter space are still open for more sensitive searches for the _νh${\nu }_h$ in future neutrino experiments.     

Baryogenesis via Sterile neutrino oscillation and neutrino parameters

We investigate baryogenesis in the νMSM which is the Minimal Standard Model (MSM) extended by three right-handed neutrinos with Majorana masses being smaller than the weak scale. In this model three sterile neutrinos, which are almost right-handed states, play important roles in cosmology. The baryon asymmetry of the universe (BAU) is generated via mechanism through flavor oscillation between two sterile neutrinos N₂ and N₃ which are degenerate in masses. We consider the case when BAU is solely originated from the CP violating phases in the mixing matrix of active neutrinos, i.e., the Dirac phase δ and the Majorana phase η, and study how BAU depends on these CP violating phases.     

New neutrino experiments

Following incredible recent progress in understanding neutrino oscillations, many new ambitious experiments are being planned to study neutrino properties. The most important may be to find a non-zero value of θ₁₃. The most promising way to do this appears to be to measurev _μ →v _e oscillations with anE/L near Δm _atmo ² . Future neutrino experiments are great.     

T-odd correlation in muon neutrino elastic scattering on polarized proton target

In this paper, we analyze the elastic scattering of the muon neutrino (_νμ${\nu }_{\mu }$) beam on the polarized proton target (PPT) in a presence of induced couplings, and predict how the existence of relative phases between the complex vector (weak magnetism) and axial (induced pseudoscalar) form factors of the proton with left-chirality _νμ${\nu }_{\mu }$ affects the azimuthal dependence of the differential cross section. The neutrinos are assumed to be Dirac fermions with non-zero mass and CPT symmetry is conserved. We show that the azimuthal asymmetry of recoil protons depends on the neutrino mass, but contributions are very tiny (∼10⁻⁵$\sim {10}^{-5}$). Analysis of the differential cross section in the case of pure vector and axial couplings at zero _νμ${\nu }_{\mu }$ mass limit and zero momentum transfer shows that the T-violating phase _βVA${\beta }_{\mathit{VA}}$ generates the T-odd, P-even triple correlation and it could be detected by measuring the asymmetry between the (0,π)$(0,\pi )$ and (π,2π)$(\pi ,2\pi )$ angles. It should be clearly stressed that the considered T-odd observable is not a genuine CP-violating quantity as it can also be produced by the T-invariant contributions due to the final state interactions (FSI). Their magnitude must be precisely estimated and subtracted from the measured observable to extract information on the possible time reversal violation (TRV). We also indicate the possibility of using the PPT in the neutrino telescope.     

Constraints on three flavor neutrino mixing

We summarize the constraints on three flavor neutrino mixing coming from data. We first map out the allowed region in the three neutrino parameter space using solar and atmospheric neutrino data. We then incorporate the results of reactor and long baseline experiments in our analysis and show that the parameter space is drastically reduced. We conclude by pointing out that the results of Borexino and SNO will further help in constraining the parameter space.     

Analysis of neutrino mass, mixing and flavor change

Established results on neutrino mass, mixing and flavor change (as of 2009) are briefly reviewed. Status and prospects of unknown neutrino properties (smallest mixing angle, Dirac/Majorana nature, absolute masses and their hierarchy) are also discussed.     

Experimental signatures of cosmological neutrino condensation

Superfluid condensation of neutrinos of cosmological origin at a low enough temperature can provide simple and elegant solution to the problems of neutrino oscillations and the accelerated expansion of the universe. It would give rise to a late time cosmological constant of small magnitude and also generate tiny masses for the neutrinos as observed from their flavor oscillations. We show that carefully prepared beta decay experiments in the laboratory would carry signatures of such a condensation, and thus, it would be possible to either establish or rule out neutrino condensation of cosmological scale in laboratory experiments.     

Discussion on a possible neutrino detector located in India

We have identified some important and worthwhile physics opportunities with a possible neutrino detector located in India. Particular emphasis is placed on the geographical advantage with a stress on the complimentary aspects with respect to other neutrino detectors already in operation.     

Submarine neutrino communication

We discuss the possibility to use a high energy neutrino beam from a muon storage ring to provide one way communication with a submerged submarine. Neutrino interactions produce muons which can be detected either, directly when they pass through the submarine or by their emission of Cerenkov light in sea water, which, in turn, can be exploited with sensitive photo detectors. Due to the very high neutrino flux from a muon storage ring, it is sufficient to mount either detection system directly onto the hull of the submersible. The achievable data transfer rates compare favorable with existing technologies and do allow for a communication at the usual speed and depth of submarines.     

Long baseline neutrino experiments

In this talk I review the physics that can be done at accelerator-based long baseline neutrino experiments, both current and future (those under construction and those that are proposed).     

The scattering of electrons by atomic hydrogen

A method is presented which reduces the problem to the scattering of a single electron in an equivalent potential. The complexities of the electron-electron interaction are embodied in this potential. An exact expression is given for the potential, and various approximation methods are discussed. The adiabatic approxmation is investigated and the imaginary part of the potential is examined.     

Importance of nuclear effects in the measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters

We investigate how models for neutrino–nucleus cross sections based on different assumptions for the nuclear dynamics affect the forecasted sensitivities to neutrino oscillation parameters at future neutrino facilities. We limit ourselves to the quasi-elastic regime, where the neutrino cross sections can be evaluated with less uncertainties, and discuss the sensitivity reach to θ₁₃${\theta }_{13}$ and δ at a prototype low-γ β-beam, mostly sensitive to the quasi-elastic regime.     

A reduction in the UHE neutrino flux due to neutrino spin precession

Motivated by the stringent flux limits for UHE neutrinos coming from gamma ray bursts or active galactic nuclei, we explore the possibility that the active neutrinos generated in such astrophysical objects could oscillate to sterile right handed states due to a neutrino magnetic moment _μν${\mu }_{\nu }$. We find that a value as small as _μν≈10⁻¹⁵_μB${\mu }_{\nu }\approx {10}^{-15}{\mu }_B$ could produce such a transition thanks to the intense magnetic fields that are expected in these objects.     

The Earth effects on the supernova neutrino spectra

The Earth effects on the energy spectra of supernova neutrinos are studied. We analyze numerically the time-integrated energy spectra of neutrino in a mantle–core–mantle step function model of the Earth's matter density profile. We consider a realistic frame-work in which there are three active neutrinos whose mass squared differences and mixings are constrained by the present understanding of solar and atmospheric neutrinos. We find that the energy spectra change for some allowed mixing parameters. Especially, the expected number of events at SNO shows characteristic behavior with respect to energy, i.e., a great dip and peak. We show that observations of the Earth effect allow us to identify the solar neutrino solution and to probe the mixing angle θ₂.