Seasonal and energy dependence of solar neutrino vacuum oscillations

We make a global vacuum neutrino oscillation analysis of solar neutrino data, including the seasonal and energy dependence of the recent Super-Kamiokande 708-day results. The best fit parameters for ν_e oscillations to an active neutrino are δm²=4.42×10⁻¹⁰ eV², sin²2θ=0.93. The allowed mixing angle region is consistent with bi-maximal mixing of three neutrinos. Oscillations to a sterile neutrino are disfavored. Allowing an enhanced hep neutrino flux does not significantly alter the oscillation parameters.     

Bimaximal mixing in an SO(10) minimal Higgs model

An SO(10) SUSY GUT model was previously presented based on a minimal set of Higgs fields. The quark and lepton mass matrices derived fitted the data extremely well and led to large ν_μ−ν_τ mixing in agreement with the atmospheric neutrino data and to the small-angle MSW solution for the solar neutrinos. Here we show how a slight modification leading to a non-zero up quark mass can result in bimaximal mixing for the atmospheric and solar neutrinos. The “just-so” vacuum solution is slightly favored over the large-angle MSW solution on the basis of the hierarchy required for the right-handed Majorana matrix and the more nearly-maximal mixing angles obtained.     

Probing the violation of equivalence principle at a muon storage ring via neutrino oscillation

We examine the possible tests of violation of the gravitational equivalence principle (VEP) at a muon storage ring via neutrino oscillation experiments. If the gravitational interactions of the neutrinos are not diagonal in the flavour basis and the gravitational interaction eigenstates have different couplings to the gravitational field, this leads to the neutrino oscillation. If one starts with μ⁺ beam then appearance of τ^±, e⁺ and μ⁻ in the final state are the signals for neutrino oscillation. We have estimated the number of μ⁻ events in this scenario in ν_μ–N deep inelastic scattering. Final state lepton energy distribution can be used to distinguish the VEP scenario from the others. A large area of VEP parameter space can be explored at a future muon storage ring facility with moderate beam energy.     

First results of the observation of <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be solar neutrinos with the BOREXINO detector

The results of a direct measurement of the counting rate for solar neutrinos from the electron-capture process on ⁷Be, ⁷Be(e ^?, ν _e )⁷Li(E _ν = 0.862 MeV), with the low-background scintillation detector BOREXINO are presented. This is the first ever real-time observation of a signal from solar neutrinos of energy below 1 MeV. The counting rate for monoenergetic beryllium neutrinos in the BOREXINO detector proved to be 47 ± 7 (stat.) ± 12 (syst.) counts/(day × 100 t), which is in agreement with the predictions of the standard solar model and the hypothesis of neutrino oscillations in matter with parameters in the LMA region.     

An effective lower bound of the solar neutrino flux

If the deficit of the solar neutrino (ν_e) flux is caused by the neutrino oscillation, there exists a lower bound of an effective neutrino flux detectable by electron scattering experiment, since the converted neutrino can also interact with atomic electron via neutral current effect. The effective reduction factor and day-night asymmetry for the ⁸B flux is calculated and plotted in the mixing parameter space, when matter oscillation effects both in the sun and in the earth are included, yielding a lower flux bound, ∼ 14% of the standard value.     

Solar neutrino oscillation diagnostics at SuperKamiokande and Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Results for solar neutrino detection from the SuperKamiokande collaboration have been presented recently while those from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory are expected in the near future. These experiments are sensitive to the⁸B neutrinos from the sun, the shape of whose spectrum is well-known but the normalization is less certain. We propose several variables, insensitive to the absolute flux of the incident beam, which probe the shape of the observed spectrum and can sensitively signal neutrino oscillations. They provide methods to extract the neutrino mixing angle and mass splitting from the data and also to distinguish oscillation to sequential neutrinos from those to a sterile neutrino.     

Heavy neutrino mixing and single production at linear collider

We study the single production of heavy neutrinos via the processes e⁻e⁺ → νN and e⁻γ → W⁻N at future linear colliders. As a base of our considerations we take a wide class of models, both with vanishing and non-vanishing left-handed Majorana neutrino mass matrix m_L. We perform a model independent analyses of the existing experimental data and find connections between the characteristic of heavy neutrinos (masses, mixings, CP eigenvalues) and the m_L parameters. We show that with the present experimental constraints heavy neutrino masses almost up to the collision energy can be tested in the future experiments.     

Time reversal violation in neutrino oscillation

We discuss the possibility of CP or T violation in neutrino oscillation. CP requires ν_μ ? ν_e and $\text{ν}\text{?}\text{ν}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>e</mtext>}}$ oscillations to be equal. Time reversal invariance requires the oscillation probability to be an even function of time. Both conditions can be violated, even drastically, if more than two neutrinos exist.     

Detector lens as a new tool for solar neutrino spectroscopy

The LENS detector is a ν _e-flavor real-time detector for measurement of low-energy solar neutrino flux and spectral shape, specifying the pp and ⁷Be neutrinos individually. It will complement future low-energy neutrino experiments (BOREXINO, HELLAZ, GENIUS), all of which are scattering experiments. The main goal of the LENS collaboration is to develop final formulation of Yb-and In-loaded liquid scintillators and to build a prototype of suitable volume to study the backgrounds and detector performance.     

Limits on neutrino oscillations derived from the ratio of neutral- to charged-current cross sections of neutrinos measured at the CERN SPS NBB

We present an analysis, in terms of neutrino oscillations, of the recent measurements of the ratio R of neutral-current to charged-current neutrino cross sections performed by the CDHS and CHARM Collaborations at the CERN Super Proton Synchroton narrow-band beam. The measurementswere aimed at the determination of sin² θ_w. Our analysis is based on the observation that muon-neutrino oscillations would decrease the number of interactions with a muon in the final state. The effect of oscillations on R can be studied, comparing the actual measurements with the value of R predicted by an independent measurement of sin² θ_w. Limits on ν_μ−ν_e, ν_μ−ν_τ, and ν_μ−ν_x oscillations are presented. They refer to a region of high mass squared difference of the two oscillating neutrinos (Δm² > 3 eV²). For high Δm² the limits on the mixing angle θ are very restrictive. In particular, for the transition ν_μ−ν_x (x≠e, τ) they represent the best available results for large intervals in Δm².     

A fresh look at neutrino oscillations

We analyze the present experimental situation on neutrino oscillations in the standard weak interaction theory with three neutrinos. Sizeable oscillations ν_e ? ν_τ are compatible with, and perhaps indicated by, present data.     

Limits on neutrino oscillation parameters from the chlorine solar-neutrino experiment

MSW regeneration of solar ν_e in the earth can lead to a seasonal variation in the capture rate in the chlorine solar-neutrino experiment. The absence of such an effect in the data allows us to set a limit on the neutrino oscillation parameters for Δm² near 3 × 10⁻⁶ eV². The limit thus obtained is only weakly dependent on solar-model inputs.     

Lepton mixing under the lepton charge nonconservation, neutrino masses and oscillations and the “forbidden” decay µ− → e − + γ

The lepton-charge (L _e , L _μ , L _τ ) nonconserving interaction leads to the mixing of the electron, muon, and tau neutrinos, which manifests itself in spatial oscillations of a neutrino beam, and also to the mixing of the electron, negative muon, and tau lepton, which, in particular, may be the cause of the “forbidden” radiative decay of the negative muon into the electron and γ quantum. Under the assumption that the nondiagonal elements of the mass matrices for neutrinos and ordinary leptons, connected with the lepton charge nonconservation, are the same, and by performing the joint analysis of the experimental data on neutrino oscillations and experimental restriction for the probability of the decay µ^? → e ^? + γ per unit time, the following estimate for the lower bound of neutrino mass has been obtained: m ^(ν) > 1.5 eV/c ².     

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.     

Are there sterile neutrinos in the flux of solar neutrinos on the earth?

It is shown that the future SNO and Super-Kamiokande experiments, in which high energy⁸B neutrinos will be detected through the observation of CC, NC and –e elastic scattering processes, could allow to reveal in a model independent way the presence of sterile neutrinos in the flux of solar neutrinos on the earth. Lower bounds for different averaged values of the probability of transition of solar v^e'S into sterile states and for the total flux of⁸B neutrinos are derived in terms of measurable quantities. The possibilities to reveal the presence of v and/or v in the solar neutrino flux on the earth are also considered and the case of transitions of solar v^e'S only into sterile states is discussed. Some numerical results for a simple model with v–v^s mixing are given.     

Inverted hierarchy of neutrino masses disfavored by supernova 1987A

We discuss the flavor conversion of supernova neutrinos in the three-flavor mixing scheme of neutrinos. We point out that by neutrino observation from supernova one can discriminate the inverted hierarchy of neutrino masses from the normal one if s₁₃²≳a few×10⁻⁴, irrespective of which oscillation solution to the solar neutrino problem is realized in nature. We perform an analysis of data of SN1987A and obtain a strong indication that the inverted mass hierarchy is disfavored unless s₁₃²≲a few×10⁻⁴.     

Measurement of the rate of ν e+d → p+p+e − interactions produced by 8B solar neutrinos at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Solar neutrinos from the decay of ⁸B have been detected at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) via the charged current (CC) reaction on deuterium and by the elastic scattering (ES) of electrons. The CC reaction is sensitive exclusively to ν _e, while the ES reaction also has a small sensitivity to ν _μ and ν _τ. The flux of ν _e from ⁸B decay measured by the CC reaction rate is φ ^CC(ν _e )=[1.75±0.07(stat.) _?0.11 ^+0.12 (syst.)×0.05(theor.)]×10⁶cm^?2s^?1. Assuming no flavor transformation, the flux inferred from the ES reaction rate is φ ^ES(ν _x )=[2.39±0.34(stat.) _?0.14 ^+0.16 (syst.)]×10⁶cm^?2s^?1. Comparison of φ ^CC(ν _e) to the Super-Kamiokande collaboration’s precision value of φ ^ES(ν _x) yields a 3.3σ difference, assuming the systematic uncertainties are normally distributed, providing evidence that there is a nonelectron flavor active neutrino component in the solar flux. The total flux of active ⁸B neutrinos is thus determined to be (5.44±0.99)×10⁶ cm^?2 s^?1, in close agreement with the predictions of solar models.     

Futurev τ oscillation experiments and present data

Our goal in this paper is to examine the discovery covery potential of laboratory experiments searching for the oscillationv _μ(ν _e)→v _τ, in the light of recent data on solar and atmospheric neutrino experiments, which we analyse together with the most restrictive results from laboratory experiments on neutrino oscillations. In order to explain simultaneouslyall present results we use a four-neutrino framework, with an additional sterile neutrino. Our predictions are rather pessimistic for the upcoming experiments NOMAD and CHORUS, which, we find, are able to explore only a small area of the oscillation parameter space. On the other hand, the discovery potential of future experiments is much larger. We consider three examples. E803, which is approved to operate in the future Fermilab main injector beam line, MINOS, a proposed long-baseline experiment also using the Fermilab beam, and NAUSICAA, an improved detector which improves by an order of magnitude the performance of CHORUS/NOMAD and can be operated either at CERN or at Fermilab beams. We find that those experiments can cover a very substantial fraction of the oscillation parameter space, having thus a very good chance of discoveringboth v _μ→v _τ andν _e→v _τ oscillation modes.     

Hierarchical neutrinos and supersymmetric inflation

A moderate extension of MSSM based on a left-right symmetric gauge group, within which hybrid inflation is `naturally' realized, is discussed. The μ problem is solved via a Peccei-Quinn symmetry. Light neutrinos acquire hierarchical masses by the seesaw mechanism. They are taken from the small angle MSW resolution of the solar neutrino puzzle and the SuperKamiokande data. The range of parameters consistent with maximal ν<sub>μ</sub>−ν<sub>τ</sub> mixing and the gravitino constraint is determined. The baryon asymmetry of the universe is generated through a primordial leptogenesis. The subrange of parameters, where the baryogenesis constraint is also met, is specified. The required values of parameters are more or less `natural'.     

Matter effects for solar neutrino oscillations

Possible solar neutrino oscillations are reviewed in the two-neutrino case taking into account the effect of coherent forward scattering when neutrinos travel through the sun and earth. As recently pointed out by Mikheyev and Smirnov this effect can induce a large suppression of the solar ν_e flux for values of Δm ² around 10^?4–10^?8 eV² even for small values of the mixing angle. It also may cause substantial modifications of the solar neutrino spectrum shape. All this may be used for determining Δm ² and sin² 2θ in a large domain from the experimental results of the chlorine, gallium, indium and heavy water detectors.