Gravitational interaction of neutrinos in models with large extra dimensions

Whenever fields are allowed to propagate in different portions of space-time, the four-dimensional theory exhibits an effective violation of the principle of equivalence. We discuss the conditions under which such an effect is relevant for neutrino physics. In the simplest case of compactification on a flat manifold, the effect of gravity is many orders of magnitude too weak and plays no role for solar neutrino oscillations. Instead, it could be important in the study of ultra high energy neutrinos in cosmic rays. Gravity could also be relevant for lower energy neutrino processes involving bulk sterile states, if the mechanism of compactification is more subtle than that on torii. Received: 12 September 2002 / Revised version: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 24 January 2003