Non-unitarity Effects Research Articles

A Pythagoras-like theorem for CP violation in neutrino oscillations

The probabilities of νμ→νe and ν‾μ→ν‾e oscillations in vacuum are determined by the CP-conserving flavor mixing factors Rij≡Re(UμiUejUμj⁎Uei⁎) and the universal Jarlskog invariant of CP violation Jν≡(−1)i+jIm(UμiUejUμj⁎Uei⁎) (for i,j=1,2,3 and i<j), where U is the 3×3 Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata neutrino mixing matrix. We show that Jν2=R12R13+R12R23+R13R23 holds as a natural consequence of the unitarity of U. This Pythagoras-like relation may provide a novel cross-check of the result of Jν that will be directly measured in the next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. Indirect non-unitarity effects and terrestrial matter effects on Jν and Rij are also discussed.

Non-unitary three-neutrino mixing in the early Universe

Deviations from unitarity in the three-neutrino mixing canonical picture are expected in many physics scenarios beyond the Standard Model. The mixing of new heavy neutral leptons with the three light neutrinos would in principle modify the strength and flavour structure of charged-current and neutral-current interactions with matter. Non-unitarity effects would therefore have an impact on the neutrino decoupling processes in the early Universe and on the value of the effective number of neutrinos, N eff. We calculate the cosmological energy density in the form of radiation with a non-unitary neutrino mixing matrix, addressing the possible interplay between parameters. Highly accurate measurements of N eff fromforthcoming cosmological observations can provide independent and complementary limits on thedepartures from unitarity. For completeness, we relate the scenario of small deviations fromunitarity to non-standard neutrino interactions and compare the forecasted constraints to otherexisting limits in the literature.

Role of Quantum Entropy and Establishment of H-Theorems in the Presence of Graviton Sinks for Manifestly-Covariant Quantum Gravity.

Based on the introduction of a suitable quantum functional, identified here with the Boltzmann–Shannon entropy, entropic properties of the quantum gravitational field are investigated in the framework of manifestly-covariant quantum gravity theory. In particular, focus is given to gravitational quantum states in a background de Sitter space-time, with the addition of possible quantum non-unitarity effects modeled in terms of an effective quantum graviton sink localized near the de Sitter event horizon. The theory of manifestly-covariant quantum gravity developed accordingly is shown to retain its emergent-gravity features, which are recovered when the generalized-Lagrangian-path formalism is adopted, yielding a stochastic trajectory-based representation of the quantum wave equation. This permits the analytic determination of the quantum probability density function associated with the quantum gravity state, represented in terms of a generally dynamically-evolving shifted Gaussian function. As an application, the study of the entropic properties of quantum gravity is developed and the conditions for the existence of a local H-theorem or, alternatively, of a constant H-theorem are established.

Effects of Leptonic Nonunitarity on Lepton Flavor Violation, Neutrino Oscillation, Leptogenesis, and Lightest Neutrino Mass

Neutrino physics is a mature branch of science with all the three neutrino mixing angles and two mass squared differences determined with high precision. In spite of several experimental verifications of neutrino oscillations and precise measurements of two mass squared differences and the three mixing angles, the unitarity of the leptonic mixing matrix is not yet established, leaving room for the presence of small nonunitarity effects. Deriving the bounds on these nonunitarity parameters from existing experimental constraints, on cLFV decays such as μ→eγ, μ→τγ, and τ→eγ, we study their effects on the generation of baryon asymmetry through leptogenesis and neutrino oscillation probabilities. We consider a model where see-saw is extended by an additional singlet S which is very light but can give rise to nonunitarity effects without affecting the form on see-saw formula. We do a parameter scan of a minimal see-saw model in a type I see-saw framework satisfying the Planck data on baryon to photon ratio of the Universe, which lies in the interval 5.8×10-10&lt;YB&lt;6.6×10-10(BBN). We predict values of lightest neutrino mass and Dirac and Majorana CP-violating phases δCP, α, and β, for normal hierarchy and inverted hierarchy for one-flavor leptogenesis. It is worth mentioning that all these four quantities are unknown yet, and future experiments will be measuring them.

Neutrino mass and neutrinoless double beta decay in SO(10) GUT with Pati–Salam symmetry

We demonstrate how a class of non-supersymmetric SO(10) GUT with asymmetric left–right theory SU(2)L × U(1)R × U(1)B−L × SU(3)C and Pati–Salam theory SU(2)L × SU(2)R × SU(4)C as intermediate symmetry breaking steps leads to successful gauge coupling unification satisfying proton decay constraints. The motivation behind this work is two fold: firstly to study the renormalization group evolution equations for gauge couplings by keeping right-handed neutral gauge boson ZR around LHC energy range leading interesting dilepton searches at collider while fixing charge partner of the gauge boson WR at very high scale; secondly to explain neutrino masses and associated lepton number violating process like neutrinoless double beta decay in three possible cases depending on how SU(2)L × U(1)R × U(1)B−L × SU(3)C breaks down to SM. The presence of Pati–Salam symmetry and Pati–Salam symmetry with D-parity (discrete left–right symmetry leading to gL = gR) at highest scale is to allow two gauge couplings and thereby ensuring precision unification for gauge couplings. We focus on neutrino mass and neutrinoless double beta decay for one particular case where TeV scale asymmetric left–right theory is spontaneously broken down to SM with non-zero VEV of both Higgs doublets with B − L = −1 and Higgs triplets with B − L = 2. We include one extra fermion singlet per generation in order to implement gauged extended seesaw where light neutrino mass is governed by dominant type-II seesaw mechanism whereas type-I seesaw contribution is cancelled out. Since light neutrino mass formula is independent of Dirac neutrino mass matrix, the value of Dirac neutrino mass is taken to be up-type quark mass matrix which is a characteristics of Pati–Salam symmetry relating quarks with leptons. This can lead to non-unitarity effects in leptonic sector and induce lepton flavor violation. We present analytic relation for effective Majorana mass parameter and corresponding half-life arising from new physics contributions due to purely left-handed currents through exchange of heavy right-handed neutrinos and sterile neutrinos. We numerically estimate effective Majorana mass parameter and half-life versus lightest neutrino mass and derive lower bound on lightest neutrino mass by saturating with experimental bounds like GERDA Phase-II, KamLANDZen and EXO.

A4 realization of the inverse seesaw mechanism: Neutrino masses, θ13 , and leptonic nonunitarity

We provide an $A_4$ based flavor symmetric scenario to accommodate the inverse seesaw mechanism for explaining light neutrino masses and mixing. We find that the lepton mixing, in particular the tri-bimaximal mixing pattern and its deviation through nonzero $\theta_{13}$, is originated solely from the flavor structure of the lepton number violating contribution of the neutral lepton mass matrix. Here we discuss in detail how a nonzero value of $\theta_{13}$ is correlated with the other parameters in the framework and its impact on the Dirac CP phase $\delta$. We also analyze the non-unitarity effects on lepton mixing matrix and its implication in terms of the lepton flavor violating decays, etc..

Non-unitarity, sterile neutrinos, and non-standard neutrino interactions

The simplest Standard Model extension to explain neutrino masses involves the addition of right-handed neutrinos. At some level, this extension will impact neutrino oscillation searches. In this work we explore the differences and similarities between the case in which these neutrinos are kinematically accessible (sterile neutrinos) or not (mixing matrix non-unitarity). We clarify apparent inconsistencies in the present literature when using different parametrizations to describe these effects and recast both limits in the popular neutrino non-standard interaction (NSI) formalism. We find that, in the limit in which sterile oscillations are averaged out at the near detector, their effects at the far detector coincide with non-unitarity at leading order, even in presence of a matter potential. We also summarize the present bounds existing in both limits and compare them with the expected sensitivities of near-future facilities taking the DUNE proposal as a benchmark. We conclude that non-unitarity effects are too constrained to impact present or near future neutrino oscillation facilities but that sterile neutrinos can play an important role at long baseline experiments. The role of the near detector is also discussed in detail.

New mechanism for Type-II seesaw dominance in SO(10) with low-mass $$Z^{\prime }$$ Z ′ , RH neutrinos, and verifiable LFV, LNV and proton decay

Dominance of type-II seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses has attracted considerable attention because of a number of advantages. We show a novel approach to achieve Type-II seesaw dominance in non-supersymmetric $SO(10)$ grand unification where a low mass $Z^{\prime}$ boson and specific patterns of right-handed neutrino masses are predicted within the accessible energy range of the Large Hadron Collider. In spite of the high value of the seesaw scale, $M_{\Delta_L} \simeq 10^8-10^9$ GeV, the model predicts new dominant contributions to neutrino-less double beta decay in the $W_L-W_L$ channel close to the current experimental limits via exchanges of heavier singlet fermions used as essential ingredients of this model even when the light active neutrino masses are normally hierarchical or invertedly hierarchical. We obtain upper bounds on the lightest sterile neutrino mass $m_s\lesssim 3.0$ GeV, $2.0$ GeV, and $0.7$ GeV for normally hierarchical, invertedly hierarchical, and quasi-degenerate patterns of light neutrino masses, respectively. The underlying non-unitarity effects lead to lepton flavor violating decay branching ratios within the reach of ongoing or planned experiments and the leptonic CP-violation parameter nearly two orders larger than the quark sector. Some of the predicted values on proton lifetime for $p\to e^+\pi^0$ are found to be within the currently accessible search limits. Other aspects of model applications including leptogenesis etc. are briefly indicated.

Inverse seesaw mechanism in nonsupersymmetricSO(10), proton lifetime, nonunitarity effects, and a low-massZ′boson

Recently realization of TeV scale inverse seesaw mechanism in supersymmetric $SO(10)$ framework has led to a number of experimentally verifiable predictions including low-mass ${W}_{R}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ and ${Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ gauge bosons and nonunitarity effects. Using nonsupersymmetric $SO(10)$ grand unified theory, we show how a TeV scale inverse seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses is implemented with a low-mass ${Z}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ boson accessible to Large Hadron Collider. We derive renormalization group equations for fermion masses and mixings in the presence of the intermediate symmetries of the model and extract the Dirac neutrino mass matrix at the TeV scale from successful grand unified theory-scale parametrization of fermion masses. We estimate leptonic nonunitarity effects measurable at neutrino factories and lepton flavor violating decays expected to be probed in the near future. While our prediction on the nonunitarity matrix element ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\tau}}$ for degenerate right-handed neutrinos is similar to the supersymmetric $SO(10)$ case, we find new predictions with significantly enhanced value of its phase ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\tau}}\ensuremath{\simeq}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}--{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ when partial degeneracy among these neutrino masses is adequately taken into account by a constraint relation that emerges naturally in this approach. Other predictions on branching ratios and $CP$-violating parameters are discussed. An important distinguishing characteristic as another test of the minimal model is that the threshold corrected two-loop prediction of the proton lifetime with maximum value $({\ensuremath{\tau}}_{p}{)}_{\mathrm{max}}\ensuremath{\simeq}{10}^{35}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{yrs}$. is accessible to ongoing search experiments for the decay $p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{e}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ in the near future. Simple model extensions with longer proton lifetime predictions are also discussed.

Lepton flavor violation and non-unitary lepton mixing in low-scale type-I seesaw

Within low-scale seesaw mechanisms, such as the inverse and linear seesaw, one expects (i) potentially large lepton flavor violation (LFV) and (ii) sizeable non-standard neutrino interactions (NSI). We consider the interplay between the magnitude of non-unitarity effects in the lepton mixing matrix, and the constraints that follow from LFV searches in the laboratory. We find that NSI parameters can be sizeable, up to percent level in some cases, while LFV rates, such as that for \mu -> e \gamma, lie within current limits, including the recent one set by the MEG collaboration. As a result the upcoming long baseline neutrino experiments offer a window of opportunity for complementary LFV and weak universality tests.

Non-unitarity of the leptonic mixing matrix in the TeV-scale type-I seesaw model

The non-unitarity effects in leptonic flavor mixing are regarded as one of the generic features of the type-I seesaw model. Therefore, we explore these effects in the TeV-scale type-I seesaw model, and show that there exist non-trivial correlations among the non-unitarity parameters, stemming from the typical flavor structure of the low-scale seesaw model. In general, it follows from analytical discussions and numerical results that all the six non-unitarity parameters are related to three model parameters, while the widely studied parameters ηeτ and ημτ cannot be phenomenologically significant simultaneously.

The minimal seesaw model at the TeV scale

We point out that the minimal seesaw model can provide a natural framework to accommodate tiny neutrino masses, while its experimental testability and notable predictiveness are still maintained. This possibility is based on the observation that two heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos in the minimal seesaw model may naturally emerge as a pseudo-Dirac fermion. In a specific scenario, we show that the tri-bimaximal neutrino mixing can be produced, and only the inverted neutrino mass hierarchy is allowed. The low-energy phenomena, including non-unitarity effects in neutrino oscillations, neutrinoless double-beta decays and rare lepton-flavor-violating decays of charged leptons ℓα→ℓβγ, have been explored. The collider signatures of the heavy singlet neutrino are also briefly discussed.

TeV scale inverse seesaw model inSO(10)and leptonic nonunitarity effects

We show that a TeV scale inverse seesaw model for neutrino masses can be realized within the framework of a supersymmetric SO(10) model consistent with gauge coupling unification and observed neutrino masses and mixing. We present our expectations for non-unitarity effects in the leptonic mixing matrix some of which are observable at future neutrino factories as well as the next generation searches for lepton flavor violating processes such as \mu --> e + \gamma. The model has TeV scale W_R and Z' bosons which are accessible at the Large Hadron Collider.

Nonunitarity effects in a realistic low-scale seesaw model

We analyze the structure of the nonunitary leptonic mixing matrix in the inverse seesaw model with heavy singlets accessible at the LHC. In this model, unlike in the usual TeV seesaw scenarios, the low-scale right-handed neutrinos do not suffer from naturalness issues. Underlying correlations among various parameters governing the nonunitarity effects are established, which leads to a considerable improvement of the generic nonunitarity bounds. In view of this, we study the discovery potential of the nonunitarity effects at future experiments, focusing on the sensitivity limits at a neutrino factory.