SearcharxivSearch

arXiv · 2409.03813

Heavy neutrinos: The chosen ones to bring balance to physics

Abstract

The Standard Model of Particle Physics has proven to be tremendously successful as the fundamental theory that describes the elementary particles that compose our Universe, as well as the interactions among them. Despite the countless experimental results that have ratified the theoretical predictions of this model, there are sound reasons to think it must be extended. Some are rather theoretical, while others are due to the observation of certain phenomena that the the Standard Model cannot explain. Chief among the latter is the massive nature of neutrinos, the most elusive particles in the Universe, which are rendered massless by the Standard Model. This contradiction establishes the starting point of this PhD thesis, which discusses the role of heavy neutrinos (a hypothetical new type of neutrino) as responsible of generating the mass of the observed neutrinos. Certain extensions of the Standard Model will be explored, which include these new particles and offer common solutions to neutrino masses and to other open problems. The consequences of the interactions of these new neutrinos with Standard Model particles will also be studied, as well as how they can be characterized by the means of present and future experimental observations.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Manuel González-López. 2024-09-05. Heavy neutrinos: The chosen ones to bring balance to physics. https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.03813

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Axionic Wormholes in Metric-Affine Gravity

The axion is a promising candidate for solving the strong CP problem. To solve this problem, the global U(1) symmetry must be preserved to a high degree of accuracy. However, it is well known that global symmetries are explicitly violated by quantum gravity effects, giving rise to what is referred to as the axion quality problem. In this paper, we investigate axionic wormholes as a source of explicit U(1) violation in Metric-Affine Gravity. This framework allows for spacetime torsion and non-metricity, which accommodate additional curvature-like and topological terms, such as the Holst and Nieh--Yan terms, that are absent from the metric and Palatini formalisms. We show that non-minimal couplings to these terms modify the wormhole dynamics and enhance the Euclidean wormhole action, thereby alleviating the axion quality problem. We also find that the viable parameter space is enlarged when two of these couplings are simultaneously present. We further identify representative parameter regions where the alleviation of the axion quality problem is compatible with inflationary constraints.

hep-ph

Qubit-Qutrit Quantum Tomography of hadronic $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{\ast 0}$ systems

Quantum-information observables have emerged in recent years as new tools in nuclear and particle physics, from entanglement in top-quark pairs to spin correlations in $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ production. Extending these studies to unequal-spin hadronic final states poses a fundamental challenge: the $6\times6$ density matrix of a qubit-qutrit system contains 35 independent spin parameters, but the decays of $\Lambda V$ pairs, with $V=\phi$ or $K^{*0}$, provide access to only 23 due to the hidden vector polarization from the strong decay. In this Letter, we formulate a qubit-qutrit quantum tomography (QQQT) technique for these spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}\otimes1$ systems and establish exact criteria for entanglement certification from the \textit{incomplete} density matrix. Compared with the $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ system, QQQT of $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{*0}$ provides a new probe of nonperturbative QCD hadronization, enabling a direct comparison of the spin evolution of entangled quark pairs produced from the vacuum as they hadronize into a baryon or a vector meson.

hep-ph

Twist decomposition of exclusive heavy meson production cross sections

We study the twist decomposition of the total cross sections for exclusive heavy vector meson electroproduction and photoproduction in the $\gamma^\ast p$ processes, within the leading logarithmic $1/x$ BFKL formalism. The Mellin transforms of the impact factors of the vector meson are calculated. We show that the higher twist contributions are strongly suppressed in the low-$x$ kinematical regime. Possible enhancement of the higher twists effects for nuclei targets is discussed.

hep-ph