arXiv subjects

Andre de Gouvea

Publications and source records attributed to Andre de Gouvea.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Neutrino Properties and Tests of Symmetries

The fact that neutrinos have mass allows them to possess many other properties, like a magnetic dipole moment and a finite decay width. Theoretical expectations for these are, however, well beyond current experimental bounds, and the discovery of new exotic neutrino properties would indicate the presence of (more) new physics. Here, I review some of the current bounds on exotic neutrino properties. Neutrino experiments are unique probes of several fundamental space-time symmetries, including invariance under CP and Lorentz transformations. I discuss how precision neutrino experiments are used to test some of the most fundamental principles of physics at unprecedented levels.

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arXiv2004

Probing New Physics by Comparing Solar and KamLAND Data

We explore whether KamLAND and solar data may end up inconsistent when analyzed in terms of two-flavor neutrino oscillations. If this turned out to be the case, one would be led to conclude that there is more new physics, besides neutrino masses and mixing, in the leptonic sector. On the other hand, given that KamLAND and solar data currently agree when analyzed in terms of two-flavor neutrino oscillations, one is able to place nontrivial bounds on several manifestations of new physics. In particular, we compute how well a combined KamLAND and solar data analysis is able to constrain a specific form of violation of CPT invariance by placing a very stringent upper bound, |Delta m^2 - Delta bar{m}^2| < 1.1 10^{-4} eV^2 (3 sigma). We also estimate upper bounds on sin^2 theta - sin^2 bar{theta}. These are quite poor due to the fact that matter effects are almost irrelevant at KamLAND, which leads to an intrinsic inability to distinguish whether the antineutrino mixing angle is on the light (bar{theta} < pi/4) or dark side of the parameter space (bar{theta} > pi/4). We briefly discuss whether this ambiguity can be resolved by future long-baseline bar{nu}_e to bar{nu}_{e,mu} searches.

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arXiv2004

Deviation of Atmospheric Mixing from Maximal and Structure in the Leptonic Flavor Sector

I attempt to quantify how far from maximal one should expect the atmospheric mixing angle to be given a neutrino mass-matrix that leads, at zeroth order, to a nu_3 mass-eigenstate that is 0% nu_e, 50% nu_mu, and 50% nu_tau. This is done by assuming that the solar mass-squared difference is induced by an "anarchical" first order perturbation, an approach than can naturally lead to experimentally allowed values for all oscillation parameters. In particular, both |cos 2theta_atm| (the measure for the deviation of atmospheric mixing from maximal) and |U_e3| are of order sqrt(Delta m^2_sol/Delta m^2_atm) in the case of a normal neutrino mass-hierarchy, or of order Delta m^2_sol/Delta m^2_atm in the case of an inverted one. Hence, if any of the textures analyzed here has anything to do with reality, next-generation neutrino experiments can see a nonzero cos 2theta_atm in the case of a normal mass-hierarchy, while in the case of an inverted mass-hierarchy only neutrino factories should be able to see a deviation of sin^2 2theta_atm from 1.

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arXiv2003

Invisible Z-Boson Decays at e+e- Colliders

The measurement of the invisible Z-boson decay width at e+e- colliders can be done "indirectly", by subtracting the Z-boson visible partial widths from the Z-boson total width, or "directly", from the process e+e- -> γν\barν. Both procedures are sensitive to different types of new physics and provide information about the couplings of the neutrinos to the Z-boson. At present, measurements at LEP and CHARM II are capable of constraining the left-handed Zνν-coupling, 0.45 <~ g_L <~ 0.5, while the right-handed one is only mildly bounded, |g_R| <= 0.2. We show that measurements at a future e+e- linear collider at different center-of-mass energies, \sqrt{s} = MZ and \sqrt{s}s ~ 170 GeV, would translate into a markedly more precise measurement of the Zνν-couplings. A statistically significant deviation from Standard Model predictions will point toward different new physics mechanisms, depending on whether the discrepancy appears in the direct or the indirect measurement of the invisible Z-width. We discuss some scenarios which illustrate the ability of different invisible Z-boson decay measurements to constrain new physics beyond the Standard Model.

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arXiv2003

Statistical Test of Anarchy

"Anarchy" is the hypothesis that there is no fundamental distinction among the three flavors of neutrinos. It describes the mixing angles as random variables, drawn from well defined probability distributions dictated by the group Haar measure. We perform a Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) statistical test to verify whether anarchy is consistent with all neutrino data, including the new result presented by KamLAND. We find a KS probability for Nature's choice of mixing angles equal to 64%, quite consistent with the anarchical hypothesis. In turn, assuming that anarchy is indeed correct, we compute lower bounds on |U_{e3}|^2, the remaining unknown "angle" of the leptonic mixing matrix.

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arXiv2002

Manifest CP Violation from Majorana Phases

We hunt for and discuss manifestly CP-violating effects which are mediated by Majorana phases. These phases are present if the Standard Model neutrinos are Majorana particles. We argue that while Majorana phases do affect the strength of neutrinoless double beta decay (a well known fact), they do so in a way that involves no manifest violation of CP. The conditions for manifestly CP-violating phenomena -- differences between the rates for CP-mirror-image processes -- are presented, and three examples are discussed: (i) neutrino-antineutrino oscillation; (ii) rare decays of K and B mesons and their antiparticles and (iii) the lepton asymmetry generated by the decay of hypothetical very heavy right-handed "see-saw" neutrinos. We also find that, for the case of degenerate light neutrinos, manifestly CP-violating effects in neutrino-antineutrino oscillation vanish, although flavor-changing transitions do not. Finally, we comment on leptogenesis with degenerate right-handed neutrinos, and contrast it to the neutrino-antineutrino oscillation case.

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arXiv2002

Long Baseline Neutrino Experiments and the LOW solution -- What is Left to Do and How Well Can It Be Done

The neutrino community is convinced that if the LMA solution is indeed correct, the prospects for next-generation, long-baseline neutrino experiments are very exciting. In this work we will argue that the prospects are not less exiting if the answer to the solar neutrino puzzle lies in the LOW region. For this purpose we explore the oscillation probabilities which are accessible to experiments which employ conventional neutrino beams. We consider the electron (anti)neutrino appearance channel, which provides information regarding not only the small $U_{e3}$-element of the leptonic mixing matrix but also the neutrino mass hierarchy, and also include information, which should come from the muon (anti)neutrino disappearance channel, regarding the magnitude of the atmospheric mass-squared difference ($|Δm^2_{13}|$) and mixing angle ($θ_{23}$). We comment on the presence of ambiguities and the experiments needed to solve them.

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arXiv2002

Can a CPT Violating Ether Solve ALL Electron (Anti)Neutrino Puzzles?

Assuming that CPT is violated in the neutrino sector seems to be a viable alternative to sterile neutrinos when it comes to reconciling the LSND anomaly with the remainder of the neutrino data. There are different (distinguishable) ways of incorporating CPT violation into the standard model, including postulating m different from \bar{m}. Here, I investigate the possibility of introducing CPT violation via Lorentz-invariance violating effective operators (``Ether'' potentials) which modify neutrino oscillation patterns like ordinary matter effects. I argue that, within a simplified two-flavor like oscillation analysis, one cannot solve the solar neutrino puzzle and LSND anomaly while still respecting constraints imposed by other neutrino experiments, and comment on whether significant improvements should be expected from a three-flavor analysis. If one turns the picture upside down, some of the most severe constrains on such CPT violating terms can already be obtained from the current neutrino data, while much more severe constraints can arise from future neutrino oscillation experiments.

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arXiv2002

Neutrino Oscillations with a Proton Driver Upgrade and an Off-Axis Detector: A Case Study

We study the physics capabilities of the NuMI beamline with an off-axis highly-segmented iron scintillator detector and with the inclusion of the currently under study proton driver upgrade. We focus on the prospects for the experimental determination of the remaining neutrino oscillation parameters, assuming different outcomes for experiments under way or in preparation. An optimization of the beam conditions and detector location for the detection of the nu_mu to nu_e transitions is discussed. Different physics scenarios were considered, depending on the actual solution of the solar neutrino puzzle. If KamLAND measures Delta m^2_solar, we find it possible to measure both |U_{e3}|^2 and the CP violating phase delta within a viable exposure time, assuming a realistic detector and a complete data analysis. Exposure to both neutrino and antineutrino beams is necessary. We can, in addition, shed light on Delta m^2_solar if its value is at the upper limit of KamLAND sensitivity (i.e. the precise value of Delta m^2_solar remains unknown even after KamLAND). If the solar neutrino solution is not in the LMA region, we can measure |U_{e3}|^2 and determine the neutrino mass hierarchy. The existence of the proton driver is vital for the feasibility of most of these measurements.

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arXiv2001

Theoretical Aspects of Neutrino Oscillation

I review some aspects concerning the physics of neutrino mixing and oscillations. I discuss in some detail the physical neutrino oscillations parameter space in the case of two and three family mixing, and briefly describe the current knowledge of neutrino mixing parameters according to the present solar, atmospheric, and reactor neutrino data. I also briefly comment on the possibility of solving the LNSD anomaly together with the solar and atmospheric ones. I conclude by emphasising that that even though in five to ten years time a lot will be learnt from the next round of neutrino experiments, a great deal about neutrino masses and neutrino mixing will remain unknown.

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arXiv2001

Neutrino Masses and Lepton Flavour Violation in Thick Brane Scenarios

We address the issue of lepton flavour violation and neutrino masses in the ``fat-brane'' paradigm, where flavour changing processes are suppressed by localising different fermion field wave-functions at different positions (in the extra dimensions) in a thick brane. We study the consequences of suppressing lepton number violating charged lepton decays within this scenario for lepton masses and mixing angles. In particular, we find that charged lepton mass matrices are constrained to be quasi-diagonal. We further consider whether the same paradigm can be used to naturally explain small Dirac neutrino masses by considering the existence of three right-handed neutrinos in the brane, and discuss the requirements to obtain phenomenologically viable neutrino masses and mixing angles. Finally, we examine models where neutrinos obtain a small Majorana mass by breaking lepton number in a far away brane and show that, if the fat-brane paradigm is the solution to the absence of lepton number violating charged lepton decays, such models predict, in the absence of flavour symmetries, that charged lepton flavour violation will be observed in the next round of rare muon/tau decay experiments.

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arXiv2001

Split Fermions in Extra Dimensions and CP Violation

We discuss CP violation in the quark sector within a novel approach to the Yukawa puzzle proposed by Arkani-Hamed and Schmaltz, where Yukawa hierarchies result from localising the Standard Model quark field wave-functions, at different positions (in the extra dimensions) in a ``fat-brane.'' We show that at least two extra dimensions are necessary in order to obtain sufficient CP violation while reproducing the correct quark mass spectrum and mixing angles.

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arXiv2000

Minimalistic Neutrino Mass Model

We consider the simplest model which solves the solar and atmospheric neutrino puzzles, in the sense that it contains the smallest amount of beyond the Standard Model ingredients. The solar neutrino data is accounted for by Planck-mass effects while the atmospheric neutrino anomaly is due to the existence of a single right-handed neutrino at an intermediate mass scale between 10^9 GeV and 10^14 GeV. Even though the neutrino mixing angles are not exactly predicted, they can be naturally large, which agrees well with the current experimental situation. Furthermore, the amount of lepton asymmetry produced in the early universe by the decay of the right-handed neutrino is very predictive and may be enough to explain the current baryon-to-photon ratio if the right-handed neutrinos are produced out of thermal equilibrium. One definitive test for the model is the search for anomalous seasonal effects at Borexino.

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arXiv2000

The Oscillation Probability of GeV Solar Neutrinos of All Active Species

In this paper, I address the oscillation probability of O(GeV) neutrinos of all active flavours produced inside the Sun and detected at the Earth. Flavours other than electron-type neutrinos may be produced, for example, by the annihilation of WIMPs which may be trapped inside the Sun. In the GeV energy regime, matter effects are important both for the ``1-3'' system and the ``1-2'' system, and for different neutrino mass hierarchies. A numerical scan of the multidimensional three-flavour parameter space is performed, ``inspired'' by the current experimental situation. One important result is that, in the three-flavour oscillation case, P{alpha,beta} is different from P{beta,alpha} for a significant portion of the parameter space, even if there is no CP-violating phase in the MNS matrix. Furthermore, P{mu,mu} has a significantly different behaviour from P{tau,tau}, which may affect expectations for the number of events detected at large neutrino telescopes.

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arXiv2000

Determining the Flavour Content of the Low-Energy Solar Neutrino Flux

We study the sensitivity of the HELLAZ and Borexino solar neutrino experiments on discriminating the neutrino species nu_e, anti-nu_e, nu_{mu,tau}, anti-nu_{mu,tau}, and nu_{sterile} using the difference in the recoil electron kinetic energy spectra in elastic neutrino-electron scattering. We find that one can observe a non-vanishing nu_{mu,tau} component in the solar neutrino flux, especially when the nu_e survival probability is low. Also, if the data turn out to be consistent with nu_e <-> nu_{mu,tau} oscillations, an anti-nu_e component can be excluded effectively.

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arXiv2000

The Dark Side of the Solar Neutrino Parameter Space

Results of neutrino oscillation experiments have always been presented on the (sin^2 2theta, Delta m^2) parameter space for the case of two-flavor oscillations. We point out, however, that this parameterization misses the half of the parameter space pi/4 < theta <= pi/2 (``the dark side''), which is physically inequivalent to the region 0 <= theta <= pi/4 (``the light side'') in the presence of matter effects. The MSW solutions to the solar neutrino problem can extend to the dark side, especially if we take the conservative attitude to allow higher confidence levels, ignore some of the experimental results in the fits, or relax theoretical predictions. Furthermore even the so-called ``vacuum oscillation'' solution distinguishes the dark and the light sides. We urge experimental collaborations to present their results on the entire parameter space.

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arXiv1999

Earth Matter Effect in 7Be Solar Neutrino Experiments

We determine the sensitivity of the KamLAND and Borexino experiments to the neutrino regeneration effect in the Earth as a function of Delta m^2 and theta, using realistic numbers for the signal and background rates. We compare the results obtained with the chi^2 method with those obtained from the conventional day-night asymmetry analysis. We also investigate how well one should be able to measure the neutrino oscillation parameters if a large day-night asymmetry is observed, taking the LOW solution as an example. We present an enlarged parameter space, which contains mixing angles greater than pi/4 where the heavy mass eigenstate is predominantly nu_e, and determine the electron neutrino survival probability for this traditionally neglected scenario. We emphasize that this portion of the parameter space yields different physics results when dealing with the MSW solutions to the solar neutrino puzzle and should not be neglected.

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arXiv1999

Seasonal Variations of the 7Be Solar Neutrino Flux

Measuring the 7Be solar neutrino flux is crucial towards solving the solar neutrino puzzle. The Borexino experiment, and possibly the KamLAND experiment, will be capable of studying the 7Be neutrinos in the near future. We discuss (1) how the seasonal variation of the Borexino and KamLAND data can be used to measure the 7Be solar neutrino flux in a background independent way and (2) how anomalous seasonal variations might be used to discover vacuum neutrino oscillations, independent of the solar model and the measurement of the background. In particular, we find that, after three years of Borexino or KamLAND running, vacuum neutrino oscillations can be either established or excluded for almost all values of (sin^2 2 theta, Delta m^2) preferred by the Homestake, GALLEX, SAGE, and Super-Kamiokande data. We also discuss how well seasonal variations of the data can be used to measure (sin^2 2 theta, Delta m^2) in the case of vacuum oscillations.

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