arXiv subjects

Aniello Quaranta

Publications and source records attributed to Aniello Quaranta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Condensed vacuum generated by spin-spin interaction as a source of axial current

We reveal the presence of a new source of axial current due to the condensed vacuum generated by the spin-spin interaction. To show this, we consider a quartic Dirac Lagrangian containing a spin-spin interaction term, possibly originating from torsion in Einstein-Cartan-like theories. We use a mean field approach to analyze the quantized theory. We show that the diagonalization of the field Hamiltonian defines a new vacuum state, energetically favored with respect to the free vacuum. Such a vacuum, which is a condensate of particle-antiparticle pairs, is characterized by a nontrivial expectation value of the axial current operator. The new source of axial current, here obtained, can have effects both at the atomic level and at the astrophysical-cosmological level depending on the origin of the spin-spin interaction term. The condensate may affect the dark sector of the universe at cosmological level and the axial current originated by the vacuum condensate could be analyzed in next table top experiments on graphene

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Quantum Field Theory of neutrino mixing in spacetimes with torsion

In the framework of quantum field theory, we analyze the neutrino oscillations in the presence of a torsion background. We consider the Einstein-Cartan theory and we study the cases of constant torsion and of linearly time dependent torsion. We derive new neutrino oscillation formulae which are depending on the spin orientation. Indeed the energy splitting induced by the torsion influences oscillation amplitudes and frequencies. This effect is maximal for values of torsion of the same order of the neutrino masses and for very low momenta, and disappears for large values of torsion. Moreover, neutrino oscillation is inhibited for intensities of torsion term much larger than neutrino masses and momentum. The modifications induced by torsion on the $CP$-asymmetry has been also presented. Future experiments, such as PTOLEMY, could provide insights into the effect shown here.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Phenomenological implications of nonlocal quantum electrodynamics

We analyze several phenomenological implications of a nonlocal generalization of quantum electrodynamics (QED). We compute the nonlocal corrections to the photon propagator up to one loop, and we show that nonlocality leads to a change of the Coulomb potential. We then investigate the ensuing modifications to the Lamb shift and to the electrostatic forces and comparing our results with the data from the muonic hydrogen anomaly, we set lower bounds on the nonlocality scales. We also discuss the running of the electromagnetic coupling for the nonlocal theory. The results obtained indicate that future experimental analyses on atomic phenomena, such as the Lamb shift, could allow to verify the presence of non-local effects on microscopic scales and impose effective limits on the non-locality scale.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Axion like particles, fifth force and neutron interferometry

We report on recent result according to which the fermion-fermion interaction mediated by axions and axion-like particles can be revealed by means of neutron interferometry. We assume that the initial neutron beam is split in two beams which are affected by differently oriented magnetic fields, in order that the phase difference depends only by the axion-induced interaction. In this way, the phase difference is directly related to the presence of axions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Fermion mixing in curved spacetime

We develop the quantum field theory of fermion mixing in curved spacetime and discuss the role of unitarily inequivalent representations in the particle interpretation of the theory. We derive general oscillation formulae and apply them to specific spcetimes of interest, such as spatially flat FRW metrics and the Schwarzschild spacetime. We exhibit the main deviations from the usual quantum mechanical approach.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

A background independent notion of causality

We develop a notion of causal order on a generic manifold as independent of the underlying differential and topological structure. We show that sufficiently regular causal orders can be recovered from a distinguished algebra of sets, which plays a role analogous to that of topologies and $σ$ algebras. We then discuss how a natural notion of measure can be associated to the algebra of causal sets.

math-ph↗

arXiv2023

A nonlocal theory of fermion mixing

We study a nonlocal generalization of two flavor fermion mixing and compute the transition probability by means of the path integral formalism. In our treatment, we delocalize only the mixing term, and consider a perturbative interaction with a small mixing angle. The oscillation formula derived reduces to the correct local form when the appropriate limit is considered. We apply our formalism to some string-inspired delocalization kernels and discuss the phenomenological deviations from the local theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Boson mixing and flavor vacuum in the expanding Universe: a possible candidate for the dark energy

We analyze the boson mixing in curved spacetime and compute the expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor of bosons on the flavor vacuum in spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metrics. We show that the energy-momentum tensor of the flavor vacuum behaves as the effective energy-momentum tensor of a perfect fluid. Assuming a fixed de Sitter background, we show that the equation of state can assume values in the interval [-1, 1], and, in the flat spacetime limit has a value -1, which is the one of the dark energy. The results here presented show that vacuum of mixed bosons like neutrino super-partners, can represent a possible component of the dark energy of the Universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Muon $g-2$ anomaly and non-locality

We show that the discrepancy between the observed value of the muon anomalous moment and the standard model prediction can be explained in the framework of nonlocal theories. We compute the leading order and next to leading order nonlocal correction to the anomalous magnetic moment $α_{NL}$ and we find that it depends on the nonlocality scale $M_f$ and the fermion mass $m_f$ as $α_{NL} \propto m_f^2/M_f^2$. Such a dependence of the anomalous magnetic momentum allows to explain, in a flavor-blind nonlocality scale, why the observed anomalous magnetic moment of the electron is much closer to the standard model prediction, and permits to predict a large anomaly that should exist for the $τ$ particle. We also determine the lower bounds on the nonlocality scale, for both flavor-blind and flavor-dependent scenarios.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Neutrinos, mixed bosons, Quantum Reference Frames and entanglement

We discuss the relevance of quantum reference frames in the description of mixed particle states. We show that the notion of rest frame for mixed particles, which is classically ill-defined, can be introduced in the context of quantum frames. We discuss the possible phenomenological implications, displaying a new form of framedependent entanglement that characterizes reactions involving mixed particles.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Neutrino capture on tritium as a probe of flavor vacuum condensate and dark matter

We show that the study of neutrino capture on tritium, for non-relativistic neutrinos, can allow to distinguish among the various neutrino models, eventually prove the quantum field theory condensation effects and permit to test the hypothesis according to which the flavor vacuum energy gives a contribution to the dark matter of the universe. Indeed, we show that the capture rate depends on the neutrino model considered, and that it brings an imprint of the flavor vacuum condensate. Experiments like PTOLEMY, designed to reveal the cosmic neutrino background, then can give an indication of the existence of the dark matter component induced by neutrino mixing.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

On the Geometric Phase and Majorana Neutrinos

We analyze the geometric phase for neutrinos and we demonstrate that the geometric invariants associated to transitions between different neutrino flavors, for Majorana neutrinos, can depend on the representation of the mixing matrix and then are sensitive to the nature of neutrinos. The dependence of geometric invariants on the Majorana phase cannot be eliminated by a charged lepton rephasing transformation. By considering kinematic and geometric approach we also demonstrate that the Majorana phase is relevant in the projective Hilbert space. Geometric invariants can in principle be used as tools to distinguish between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Boson mixing and flavor oscillations in curved space-time

We develop a quantum field theory of boson mixing in curved space. We derive new general oscillation probabilities and prove that the formalism correctly reproduces the flat space limit. We explicitly compute the oscillation formulae for two cosmologically relevant Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metrics.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

The flavor vacuum in the expanding universe and dark matter

We analyze fermion mixing in the framework of field quantization in curved spacetime. We compute the expectation value of the energy momentum tensor of mixed fermions on the flavor vacuum. We consider spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metrics, and we show that the energy momentum tensor of the flavor vacuum is diagonal and conserved. Therefore it can be interpreted as the effective energy momentum tensor of a perfect fluid. In particular, assuming a fixed De Sitter background, the equation of state of the fluid is consistent with that of dust and cold dark matter. Our results establish a new link between quantum effects and classical fluids, and indicate that the flavor vacuum of mixed fermions may represent a new component of dark matter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Beyond the MSW effect: Neutrinos in a dense medium

We present a theory of neutrino oscillations in a dense medium which goes beyond the effective matter potential used in the description of the MSW effect. We show how the purity of the neutrino state is degraded by neutrino interactions with the environment and how neutrino--matter interactions can be a source of decoherence. We present new oscillation formulae for neutrinos interacting with leptons and carry out a numerical analysis which exhibits deviations from the MSW formulae for propagation through the Earth of ultra-high energy neutrinos. In particular, we show that at high density and/or high neutrino energy, the vanishing transition probabilities derived for MSW effect, are non zero when the scattering is taken into account.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Neutron Interferometry and axion like particles

We propose a method to reveal axions and axion-like particles based on interferometric measurement of neutron beams. We consider an interferometer in which the neutron beam is split in two sub-beams propagating in regions with differently oriented magnetic fields. The beam paths and the strength of the magnetic fields are set in such a way that all the contributions to the phase difference but the one due to axion-induced interactions are removed. The resulting phase difference is directly related to the presence of axions. Our results show that such a phase is in principle detectable with neutron interferometry, possibly proving the existence of axions and axion-like particles.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Testing CPT violation, entanglement and gravitational interactions in particle mixing with trapped ions

By analyzing the analogies between the effective system of $N$ spins described by the Ising Hamiltonian and the phenomenon of the self--gravity in mixed particle systems, we show that cooled ions held in a segmented ion trap and exposed to a magnetic field gradient can simulate the proposed mechanism of mutual interaction in mixed neutrino system. We show that with trapped ions one can reproduce the expected corrections to the flavor transitions and the $CPT$ violation induced by gravity on flavor fields, which may have played an important role in the early stages of the universe. The results presented are experimentally testable. They indicate that ions confined in microtraps can represent a new tool to test fundamental phenomena of nature.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Einstein, Planck and Vera Rubin: relevant encounters between the Cosmological and the Quantum Worlds

In Cosmology and in Fundamental Physics there is a crucial question like: where the elusive substance that we call Dark Matter is hidden in the Universe and what is it made of?, that, even after 40 years from the Vera Rubin seminal discovery does not have a proper answer. Actually, the more we have investigated, the more this issue has become strongly entangled with aspects that go beyond the established Quantum Physics, the Standard Model of Elementary particles and the General Relativity and related to processes like the Inflation, the accelerated expansion of the Universe and High Energy Phenomena around compact objects. Even Quantum Gravity and very exotic DM particle candidates may play a role in framing the Dark Matter mystery that seems to be accomplice of new unknown Physics. Observations and experiments have clearly indicated that the above phenomenon cannot be considered as already theoretically framed, as hoped for decades. The Special Topic to which this review belongs wants to penetrate this newly realized mystery from different angles, including that of a contamination of different fields of Physics apparently unrelated. We show with the works of this ST that this contamination is able to guide us into the required new Physics. This review wants to provide a good number of these "paths or contamination" beyond/among the three worlds above; in most of the cases, the results presented here open a direct link with the multi-scale dark matter phenomenon, enlightening some of its important aspects. Also in the remaining cases, possible interesting contacts emerges.

gr-qc↗