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arXiv · 1712.08019

A New Light Higgs Boson and Short-Baseline Neutrino Anomalies

J. Asaadi·E. Church·R. Guenette·B. J. P. Jones·A. M. Szelc
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Abstract

The low-energy excesses observed by the MiniBooNE experiment have, to date, defied a convinc- ing explanation under the standard model even with accommodation for non-zero neutrino mass. In this paper we explore a new oscillation mechanism to explain these anomalies, invoking a light neu- trinophilic Higgs boson, conceived to induce a low Dirac neutrino mass in accord with experimental limits. Beam neutrinos forward-scattering off of a locally over-dense relic neutrino background give rise to a novel matter-effect with an energy-specific resonance. An enhanced oscillation around this resonance peak produces flavor transitions which are highly consistent with the MiniBooNE neutrino- and antineutrino-mode data sets. The model provides substantially improved $\chi^2$ values beyond either the no-oscillation hypothesis or the more commonly explored 3+1 sterile neutrino hy- pothesis. This mechanism would introduce distinctive signatures at each baseline in the upcoming SBN program at Fermilab, presenting opportunities for further exploration.

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J. Asaadi, E. Church, R. Guenette, B. J. P. Jones, A. M. Szelc. 2017-12-21. A New Light Higgs Boson and Short-Baseline Neutrino Anomalies. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.97.075021

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