Nonstandard neutrino interactions in supernovae

Abstract

Non-Standard Interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter can significantly alter neutrino flavor evolution in supernovae with the potential to impact explosion dynamics, nucleosynthesis and the neutrinos signal. In this paper we explore, both numerically and analytically, the landscape of neutrino flavor transformation effects in supernovae due to NSI and find new, heretofore unseen transformation processes can occur. These new transformations can take place with NSI strengths well below current experimental limits. Within a broad swath of NSI parameter space we observe Symmetric and Standard Matter-Neutrino Resonances (MNRs) for supernovae neutrinos, a transformation effect previously only seen in compact object merger scenarios; in another region of the parameter space we find the NSI can induce neutrino collective effects in scenarios where none would appear with only the standard case of neutrino oscillation physics; and in a third region the NSI can lead to the disappearance of the high (H) density Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) resonance. Using a variety of analytical tools we are able to describe quantitatively the numerical results allowing us to partition the NSI parameter according to the transformation processes observed. Our results indicate non-standard interactions of supernova neutrinos provide a sensitive probe of Beyond the Standard Model physics complementary to present and future terrestrial experiments.

Matter-neutrino resonance transitions above a neutron star merger remnant

“…This geometric effect comes from the extension of the neutrino emitting surface significantly beyond the antineutrino emitting surface, for a discussion see [37] The matter neutrino resonance is not naively expected to occur in supernovae because both potentials have the same sign. However, if Non Standard Interactions (NSIs) exist with significant strength they can trigger MNR transitions in supernovae [42]. Further, if neutrino-antineutrino oscillations occur near the surface of the protoneutron star, a situation similar to Matter Neutrino Resonance transformation occurs [35].…”

Neutrino spin and spin-flavor oscillations in transversal matter currents with standard and nonstandard interactions

“…Quite recently [51] it has been shown that nonstandard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos with matter [52][53][54] can significantly alter neutrino flavor evolution in supernovae with the potential to impact explosion dynamics, nucleosynthesis, and the neutrinos signal.…”

Non-standard interactions and neutrinos from dark matter annihilation in the Sun

“…It can be diagonalized by corresponding rotation ν = R 23 (θ 23 )ν, whereθ 23 is determined by tan 2θ 23 = sin 2θ 23 cos 2θ 23 where A = 2 τ τ VeEν ∆m 2…”