Right-handed neutrinos in low-energy neutrino–electron scattering

Abstract

In this Letter a scenario admitting the participation of the exotic scalar coupling of the right-handed neutrinos in addition to the standard vector and axial couplings of the left-handed neutrinos in the weak interactions is considered. The research is based on the low-energy (νμe−) and (νee−) scattering processes. The main goal is to show how the presence of the right-handed neutrinos in the above processes changes the laboratory differential cross section in relation to the Standard Model prediction. Both processes are studied at the level of the four-fermion point interaction. Neutrinos are assumed to be polarized Dirac fermions and to be massive. In the laboratory differential cross section, the new interference term between the standard vector coupling of the left-handed neutrinos and exotic scalar coupling of the right-handed neutrinos appears which does not vanish in the limit of vanishing neutrino mass. This additional contribution, including information on the transverse components of neutrino polarization, generates the azimuthal asymmetry in the angular distribution of the recoil electrons. This regularity would be a signature of the presence of the right-handed neutrinos in the neutrino–electron scattering.