Neutrino mixing in accelerated proton decays

Abstract

We discuss the inverse β-decay of accelerated protons in the context of neutrino flavor superpositions (mixings) in mass Eigenstates. The process p → nℓ + ν ℓ is kinematically allowed because the accelerating field provides the rest energy difference between initial and final states. The rate of p → n conversions can be evaluated in either the laboratory frame (where the proton is accelerating) or the co-moving frame (where the proton is at rest and interacts with an effective thermal bath of ℓ and ν ℓ due to the Unruh effect). By explicit calculation, we show the rates in the two frames disagree when taking into account neutrino mixings, because the weak interaction couples to charge eigenstates whereas gravity couples to neutrino mass eigenstates [1]. The contradiction could be resolved experimentally, potentially yielding new information on the origins of neutrino masses. 25.75.Dw,25.75.Nq

Neutrino mixing and general covariance in the inverse $β$ decay

“…If the two decay rates coincide, then the discrepancy arising in Ref. [4] would be solved at a purely theoretical level. Instead, if the contradiction remains, one could envisage two potential sources of the problem (or combination thereof):…”

“…By explicit calculation, it is possible to show that 4 [12] U k = |U k | e i(ω ν 2 −ω ν 1 )t , V k = |V k | e i(ω ν 2 +ω ν 1 )t ,…”

“…An interesting development along this line was provided by the analysis of the inverse β decay in the presence of neutrino mixing [4,5,6]. This subject was firstly addressed in Ref.…”

“…The key point is that the transformation connecting neutrino annihilation operators with definite flavors to those 1 The authors of Ref. [4] motivate this choice by the requirement of KMS thermal condition for the accelerated neutrino vacuum. However, in Ref.…”

Nonthermal signature of the Unruh effect in field mixing

“…Mixing transformations in a non-inertial frame may serve as a tool for analyzing a number of other current questions dealing with such a topic: the spin-down of a rotating star by neutrino emission [27] and the disagreement between the inverse β-decay rates of accelerated protons in comoving and inertial frames [28], for instance, are some of the most relevant problems appearing in this framework. The latter aspect, in particular, is discussed, providing a possible resolution for the above incompatibility.…”