Neutrino nonstandard interactions via light scalars in the Earth, Sun, supernovae, and the early Universe

K S Babu,Garv Chauhan,P S Bhupal Dev

doi:10.1103/physrevd.101.095029

K S Babu, Garv Chauhan + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.101.095029

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Abstract

Non-standard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter mediated by a scalar field would induce medium-dependent neutrino masses which can modify oscillation probabilities. Generating observable effects requires an ultra-light scalar mediator. We derive general expressions for the scalar NSI using techniques of quantum field theory at finite density and temperature, including the long-range force effects, and discuss various limiting cases applicable to the neutrino propagation in different media, such as the Earth, Sun, supernovae and early Universe. We also analyze various terrestrial and space-based experimental constraints, as well as astrophysical and cosmological constraints on these NSI parameters, applicable to either Dirac or Majorana neutrinos. By combining all these constraints, we show that observable scalar NSI effects, although precluded in terrestrial experiments, are still possible in future solar and supernovae neutrino data, and in cosmological observations such as cosmic microwave background and big bang nucleosynthesis data.

Highlights

The discovery of neutrino oscillations implies that at least two of the three neutrinos must have small but nonzero masses [1]
The global neutrino oscillation program is entering a new era, where the known mixing angles and mass-squared differences are being measured with an ever-increasing accuracy
These analyses are usually performed within the 3 × 3 neutrino mixing scheme under the assumption that neutrinos interact with matter only through the weak interactions mediated by Standard Model (SM) W and Z bosons

Summary

Introduction

The discovery of neutrino oscillations implies that at least two of the three neutrinos must have small but nonzero masses [1]. Next-generation of long-baseline oscillation experiments like DUNE are poised to resolve the subdominant effects in oscillation data sensitive to the currently unknown oscillation parameters, namely the Dirac CP phase, sign of the atmospheric mass-squared difference and the octant of the atmospheric mixing angle. These analyses are usually performed within the 3 × 3 neutrino mixing scheme under the assumption that neutrinos interact with matter only through the weak interactions mediated by Standard Model (SM) W and Z bosons.

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