Covariant asymmetric wave packet for a field-theoretical description of neutrino oscillations

Abstract

We consider a class of models for the relativistic covariant wave packets (WPs) which can be used as asymptotically free in and out states in the quantum field theoretical formalisms for description of the neutrino flavor oscillation phenomenon. We demonstrate that the new “asymmetric” wave packet (AWP) is an appropriate alternative to the more conventional “symmetric” WPs, like the so-called relativistic Gaussian packet (RGP) widely used in the quantum field theory (QFT)-based approaches to neutrino oscillations. We show that RGP is not a particular case of AWP, although many properties of these models are almost identical in the quasistable regime. We discuss some features of AWP distinguishing it from RGP.