Neutrino flavor relaxation or neutrino oscillations?

We propose the new mechanism of neutrino flavor relaxation to explain the experimentally observed changes of initial neutrino flavor fluxes. The test of neutrino relaxation hypothesis is presented using the data of modern reactor, solar, and accelerator experiments. The final choice between the standard neutrino oscillations and the proposed neutrino flavor relaxation model can be done in future experiments.     

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.     

A radiative model with a naturally mild neutrino mass hierarchy

Many neutrino mass models postulate the existence of at least two extra fermions in order to account for the measured solar and atmospheric mass splittings. In these models, however, the predicted hierarchy between the two mass splittings is generically much larger than the observed one, unless extra flavor symmetries are introduced. We present in this Letter a radiative neutrino mass model consisting of the Standard Model extended by one heavy fermionic singlet and two scalars which predicts, under very general conditions, a neutrino mass hierarchy in qualitative agreement with the experimental value.     

Non-standard Hamiltonian effects on neutrino oscillations

We investigate non-standard Hamiltonian effects on neutrino oscillations, which are effective additional contributions to the vacuum or matter Hamiltonian. Since these effects can enter in either the flavor or mass basis, we develop an understanding of the difference between these bases representing the underlying theoretical model. In particular, the simplest of these effects are classified as “pure” flavor or mass effects, where the appearance of such a “pure” effect can be quite plausible as a leading non-standard contribution from theoretical models. Compared to earlier studies investigating particular effects, we aim for a top–down classification of a possible “new physics” signature at future long-baseline neutrino oscillation precision experiments. We develop a general framework for such effects with two neutrino flavors and discuss the extension to three neutrino flavors, and we demonstrate the challenges for a neutrino factory to distinguish the theoretical origin of these effects with a numerical example as well. We find how the precision measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters can be altered by non-standard effects alone (not including non-standard interactions in the creation and detection processes) and that the non-standard effects on Hamiltonian level can be distinguished from other non-standard effects (such as neutrino decoherence and decay) if we consider the specific imprint of the effects on the energy spectra of several different oscillation channels at a neutrino factory.     

Resonant neutrino oscillations and the neutrino signature of supernovae

We examine the effects of resonant neutrino oscillations, proposed as a solution to the solar neutrino puzzle, on the neutrino signature of a Type II supernova. We find that, for parameters corresponding to an adiabatic conversion of most of the ⁸B neutrino flux, the supernova neutrino signal in a water-Čerenkov detector is altered in the following way: (1) The isotropic-to-directional event ratio increases; (2) The short time scale neutronization burst signal decreases by a factor 7, perhaps rendering it unobservable. Detection of these changes would allow one to distinguish between neutrino oscillations and solar model alterations as solutions to the solar neutrino problem. We also note that mixing of the higher energy ν_μ and ν_r's to ν_e's will enhance detection of the thermally produced ν-flux.     

Solar neutrino decay

We re-examine the neutrino decay solution to the solar neutrino problem in light of the new data from GALLEX II and Kamiokande III. We compare the experimental data with the solar models of Bahcall and Pinsonneault and Turck-Chieze and find that neutrino decay is ruled out as a solution to the solar neutrino problem at better than the 98% CL even when solar model uncertainties are taken into account.     

Flavor evolution of the neutronization neutrino burst from an O-Ne-Mg core-collapse supernova

We present results of 3-neutrino flavor evolution simulations for the neutronization burst from an O-Ne-Mg core-collapse supernova. We find that nonlinear neutrino self-coupling engineers a single spectral feature of stepwise conversion in the inverted neutrino mass hierarchy case and in the normal mass hierarchy case, a superposition of two such features corresponding to the vacuum neutrino mass-squared differences associated with solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations. These neutrino spectral features offer a unique potential probe of the conditions in the supernova environment and may allow us to distinguish between O-Ne-Mg and Fe core-collapse supernovae.     

Solar mass-varying neutrino oscillations

We propose that the solar neutrino deficit may be due to oscillations of mass-varying neutrinos (MaVaNs). This scenario elucidates solar neutrino data beautifully while remaining comfortably compatible with atmospheric neutrino and K2K data and with reactor antineutrino data at short and long baselines (from CHOOZ and KamLAND). We find that the survival probability of solar MaVaNs is independent of how the suppression of neutrino mass caused by the acceleron-matter couplings varies with density. Measurements of MeV and lower energy solar neutrinos will provide a rigorous test of the idea.     

Solar neutrino problem and gravitationally induced long-wavelength neutrino oscillation

We have reexamined the possibility of explaining the solar neutrino data through long-wavelength neutrino oscillations induced by a tiny breakdown of the weak equivalence principle of general relativity. We have found that such gravitationally induced oscillations can provide a viable solution to the solar neutrino problem.     

Majorana neutrino transition magnetic moment in a variant of Zee model with horizontal symmetry

A SU(2) _H symmetric variant of Zee model of lepton flavor violation is presented and is shown to lead to neutrino transition magnetic moment of the order required to explain the solar neutrino deficit and the possible anticorrelation of solar neutrino flux with sunspot activity via VVO mechanism. The use of horizontal symmetry leads to totally degenerate neutrino states which may be combined to form a ZKM Dirac neutrino with naturally small mass.     

Precision measurement of the (7)Be solar neutrino interaction rate in Borexino

The rate of neutrino-electron elastic scattering interactions from 862 keV (7)Be solar neutrinos in Borexino is determined to be 46.0±1.5(stat)(-1.6)(+1.5)(syst)?counts/(day·100 ton). This corresponds to a ν(e)-equivalent (7)Be solar neutrino flux of (3.10±0.15)×10(9) cm(-2)?s(-1) and, under the assumption of ν(e) transition to other active neutrino flavours, yields an electron neutrino survival probability of 0.51±0.07 at 862 keV. The no flavor change hypothesis is ruled out at 5.0?σ. A global solar neutrino analysis with free fluxes determines Φ(pp)=6.06(-0.06)(+0.02)×10(10) cm(-2)?s(-1) and Φ(CNO)<1.3×10(9) cm(-2)?s(-1) (95% C.L.). These results significantly improve the precision with which the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein large mixing angle neutrino oscillation model is experimentally tested at low energy.     

Solar neutrino spectroscopy

Since the pioneering experiment of R. Davis et al., which started neutrino astronomy by measuring the solar neutrinos via the inverse beta decay reaction on ³⁷Cl, all solar neutrino experiments find a considerably lower flux than expected by standard solar models. This finding is generally called the solar neutrino problem. Many attempts have been made to explain this result by altering the solar models, or assuming different nuclear cross sections for fusion processes assumed to be the energy sources in the sun.There have been performed numerous experiments recently to investigate the different possibilities to explain the solar neutrino problem. These experiments covered solar physics with helioseismology, nuclear cross section measurements, and solar neutrino experiments.Up to now no convincing explanation based on “standard” physics was suggested. However, assuming nonstandard neutrino properties, i.e. neutrino masses and mixing as expected in most extensions of the standard theory of elementary particle physics, natural solutions for the solar neutrino problem can be found.It appears that with this newly invented neutrino astronomy fundamental information on astrophysics as well as elementary particle physics are tested uniquely. In this contribution an attempt is made to review the situation of the neutrino astronomy for solar neutrino spectroscopy and discuss the future prospects in this field.     

A four-neutrino mixing scheme for observed neutrino data

It has been observed that simultaneous explanation of the solar and atmospheric neutrino deficits and the reported evidence for oscillation from the Los Alamos Liquid Scintillator Detector (LSND) requires at least one extra neutrino species in addition to the three known ones. The extra neutrino must be sterile with respect to the known weak interactions. We present a new mass matrix for these four neutrinos in which the LSND effect and the atmospheric neutrino deficit are governed by only one parameter. We investigate the phenomenological implications of such a mass matrix ansatz and suggest possible ways to understand it in gauge theories.     

Flavor oscillations in the supernova hot bubble region: nonlinear effects of neutrino background

The neutrino flux close to a supernova core contributes substantially to neutrino refraction so that flavor oscillations become a nonlinear phenomenon. One unexpected consequence is efficient flavor transformation for antineutrinos in a region where only neutrinos encounter a Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein resonance or vice versa. Contrary to previous studies we find that in the neutrino-driven wind the electron fraction Y(e) always stays below 0.5, corresponding to a neutron-rich environment as required by r-process nucleosynthesis. The relevant range of masses and mixing angles includes the region indicated by LSND, but not the atmospheric or solar oscillation parameters.     

Solar neutrino experiments: Status and prospects

Solar neutrino experiments were originally conceived as a way to demonstrate that nuclear reactions are responsible for energy generation in stars. When solar neutrinos were first detected the measured flux was much less than what solar models predicted. The Solar Neutrino Problem thus came to be and it persisted for over thirty years. It is now known that the deficit in solar neutrinos (of electron neutrino flavour) was due to neutrino oscillations and that matter effects are important. Solar neutrino experiments played a key part in these discoveries and in recent developments in neutrino physics. This report summarizes Pontecorvo Neutrino Physics School lectures that explored the physics of solar neutrinos and the experiments that detected them. The lectures also included a look forward to future solar neutrino experiments and their physics goals and these are also discussed here.     

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     

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.     

Progress in neutrino oscillation searches and their implications

Neutrino oscillation, in which a given flavor of neutrino transforms into another is a powerful tool for probing small neutrino masses. The intrinsic neutrino properties involved are neutrino mass squared difference Δm ² and the mixing angle in vacuum θ. In this paper I will summarize the progress that we have achieved in our search for neutrino oscillation with special emphasis on the recent results from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) on the measurement of solar neutrino fluxes. I will outline the current bounds on the neutrino masses and mixing parameters and discuss the major physics goals of future neutrino experiments in the context of the present picture.     

No collective neutrino flavor conversions during the supernova accretion phase

We perform a dedicated study of the supernova (SN) neutrino flavor evolution during the accretion phase, using results from recent neutrino radiation hydrodynamics simulations. In contrast to what was expected in the presence of only neutrino-neutrino interactions, we find that the multiangle effects associated with the dense ordinary matter suppress collective oscillations. The matter suppression implies that neutrino oscillations will start outside the neutrino decoupling region and therefore will have a negligible impact on the neutrino heating and the explosion dynamics. Furthermore, the possible detection of the next galactic SN neutrino signal from the accretion phase, based on the usual Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effect in the SN mantle and Earth matter effects, can reveal the neutrino mass hierarchy in the case that the mixing angle θ(13) is not very small.     

Neutrino mass hierarchy and stepwise spectral swapping of supernova neutrino flavors

We examine a phenomenon recently predicted by numerical simulations of supernova neutrino flavor evolution: the swapping of supernova nu(e) and nu(mu,tau) energy spectra below (above) energy E(C) for the normal (inverted) neutrino mass hierarchy. We present the results of large-scale numerical calculations which show that in the normal neutrino mass hierarchy case, E(C) decreases as the assumed effective 2x2 vacuum nu(e)<==>nu(mu,tau) mixing angle (approximately theta13) is decreased. In contrast, these calculations indicate that E(C) is essentially independent of the vacuum mixing angle in the inverted neutrino mass hierarchy case. With a good neutrino signal from a future galactic supernova, the above results could be used to determine the neutrino mass hierarchy even if theta13 is too small to be measured by terrestrial neutrino oscillation experiments.