Screening models and neutrino oscillations

Abstract

In screening models with scalar-matter conformal coupling, we study the flavor transition of neutrinos. We employ an analytical method for studying the oscillation phase in a spherically symmetric space-time filled by a scalar field. Since the ambient matter density determines the scalar field's behavior, an indirect environmental effect contributes to the flavor conversion inside matter. We evaluate the survival probabilities and show that the existence of the scalar field affects the oscillations of neutrinos. We discuss the results in the framework of screening mechanisms and the end confront our results with observational data.

Plane-wave and wave-packet neutrino flavor oscillations in vacuum in conformal coupling models

“…insert into the Gaussian integral (36) the quantum phase given by Eq. ( 15), whereas in the second case one should insert into the Gaussian (36) the quantum phase given by Eq.…”

“…We clearly see now the big issue one faces when adopting this approach. Both phases ( 15) and ( 21) would prevent one from properly performing the Gaussian integral (36). Indeed, the integration variable in that Gaussian is the momentum p j in which the implicit conformal factor Ω(φ) should now be evaluated at r = r B , whereas both phases ( 15) and ( 21) contain through the energies E j (p) and E * (p) a momentum p j that is decoupled from the conformal factor Ω(φ) as the latter has already been integrated over the path of the neutrinos inside integrals T , I and J.…”

“…However, among the various proposed mechanisms that are of interest to us here are those that lead to varying masses for neutrinos based on the interaction of the latter with a scalar field [29][30][31][32][33][34] and, more specifically, the conformal coupling scenario. The effect of this kind of possible variation of neutrinos' masses on neutrino oscillations has more recently been examined by various authors [35][36][37][38][39]. Now, it is also well known that the Dirac equation (and hence the fermion Lagrangian) in curved spacetime is conformally invariant [40].…”

Non-standard neutrino interaction induced by conformal coupling

“…Along their path towards detectors, neutrinos propagate through the vacuum or matter. For neutrinos traveling in the vacuum, the Schrödinger-like equation describing neutrino oscillations can be solved precisely, resulting in the phase of oscillations [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. However, when neutrinos propagate in the matter, neutrinos flavor change is affected by their forward elastic scattering from solar electrons (i.e., caused by the standard weak interactions).…”