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Kwang-Chang Lai

Publications and source records attributed to Kwang-Chang Lai.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Simulations of 3-Dimensional Recoil Response to Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering Events in Directional Direct Dark Matter Detectors

Following our earlier work on studying 3-dimensional nuclear recoil response to Galactic Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) in directional direct Dark Matter detectors, in this paper, we simulate 3-D coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) events induced by Solar B-8 neutrinos. Our numerical results show that, in contrast to the approximately fixed patterns of the WIMP-induced signals, the characteristic ring-like angular distributions of the nuclear recoil flux/energy of CEvNS events show clearly annual variations along the trajectories of the moving direction of incident Solar neutrinos in different celestial coordinate systems without experimentally distinguishable target dependence.

astro-ph.HE

SN1987A constraints to BSM models with extra neutral bosons near the trapping regime: $U(1)_{L_μ-L_τ}$ model as an illustrative example

New physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) with an extra neutral boson can be constrained from the observation of SN1987A, since the production of this neutral boson in a supernova (SN) could accelerate the SN cooling and potentially lead to a period of the neutrino burst incompatible with the observation. The constraint to the model is formulated by the condition $L_{\rm NB}\leq 3\times 10^{52}$ erg/s according to G. Raffelt with $L_{\rm NB}$ the luminosity of BSM neutral boson. Computing the above luminosity in the large coupling case, the so-called trapping regime, is non-trivial since the luminosity is a competition between the large production rate and the efficient absorption or decay rate of the neutral boson. We illustrate such a subtlety using $U(1)_{L_μ-L_τ}$ model as an example where the $Z^{\prime}$ luminosity, $L_{Z^{\prime}}$, from the neutrinosphere is calculated. We calculate $Z'$ production, absorption, and decay rates through pair-coalescence, semi-Compton, loop-bremsstrahlung from proton-neutron scattering, and their inverse processes in a benchmark SN simulation with muons. We point out that, as the coupling constant $g_{Z'}$ increases, $L_{Z^{\prime}}$ shall be approaching a constant plateau value for a given $m_{Z'}$ instead of monotonically decreasing down to zero as obtained in the previous literature. We demonstrate that this plateau phenomenon can be understood by physical arguments and justified by numerical calculations. With a different result on $L_{Z^{\prime}}$ from the previous one, we discuss impacts on the constraints to $U(1)_{L_μ-L_τ}$ parameter space by SN1987A. The implication of our result to the similar constraint on a generic BSM model with an extra neutral boson is also discussed.

hep-ph

Testing MSW effect in supernova explosion with neutrino event rates

Flavor transition mechanisms of supernova (SN) neutrinos during their propagation deserve a close scrutiny. We present a method to verify Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) effect during the propagation of SN neutrinos from the SN core to the Earth. The non-MSW scenarios to be distinguished from the MSW one are the incoherent flavor transition probability for neutrino propagation in the vacuum and the flavor equalization induced by fast flavor conversions. Our approach involves studying the time evolution of neutrino event rates in liquid argon, liquid scintillation, and water Cherenkov detectors. The liquid argon detector is sensitive to $ν_e$ flux while liquid scintillation and water Cherenkov detectors can measure $\barν_e$ flux through inverse $β$ decay process. The flux of $ν_e$ ($\barν_e$) is a linear combination of $ν_e$ ($\barν_e$) and $ν_{μ,τ}$ ($\barν_{μ,τ}$) fluxes from the source with the weighting of each component dictated by the flavor transition mechanism. Using currently available simulations for SN neutrino emissions, the time evolution of $ν_e{\rm Ar}$ and $\barν_e$ inverse $β$ decay event rates and the corresponding cumulative event fractions are calculated up to $t=100~{\rm ms}$ in DUNE, JUNO, and Hyper-Kamiokande detectors, respectively. It is shown that the area under the cumulative time distribution curve from $t=0$ to $t=100~{\rm ms}$ in each detector and their ratio can be used to discriminate different flavor transition scenarios of SN neutrinos.

astro-ph.HE

On Possibility of Determining Neutrino Mass Hierarchy by the Charged-Current and Neutral-Current Events of Supernova Neutrinos in Scintillation Detectors

One of the unresolved mysteries in neutrino physics is the neutrino mass hierarchy. We present a new method to determine neutrino mass hierarchy by comparing the events of inverse beta decays (IBD), $\barν_e + p\rightarrow n + e^+$, and neutral current (NC) interactions, $ν(\overlineν) + p\rightarrowν(\overlineν) + p$, of supernova neutrinos from accretion and cooling phases in scintillation detectors. Supernova neutrino flavor conversions depend on the neutrino mass hierarchy. On account of Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effects, the full swap of $\barν_e$ flux with the $\barν_x$ ($x=μ,~τ$) one occurs in the inverted hierarchy, while such a swap does not occur in the normal hierarchy. In consequence, the ratio of high energy IBD events to NC events for the inverted hierarchy is higher than in the normal hierarchy. Since the luminosity of $\barν_e$ is larger than that of $ν_x$ in accretion phase while the luminosity of $\barν_e$ becomes smaller than that of $ν_x$ in cooling phase, we calculate this ratio for both accretion and cooling phases. By analyzing the change of this event ratio from accretion phase to cooling phase, one can determine the neutrino mass hierarchy.

astro-ph.HE

Constraining the Mass Scale of a Lorentz-Violating Hamiltonian with the Measurement of Astrophysical Neutrino-Flavor Composition

We study Lorentz violation effects on flavor transitions of high energy astrophysical neutrinos. It is shown that the appearance of Lorentz violating Hamiltonian can drastically change the flavor transition probabilities of astrophysical neutrinos. Predictions of Lorentz violation effects on flavor compositions of astrophysical neutrinos arriving on Earth are compared with IceCube flavor composition measurement which analyzes astrophysical neutrino events in the energy range between $25~{\rm TeV}$ and $2.8~{\rm PeV}$. Such a comparison indicates that the future IceCube-Gen2 will be able to place stringent constraints on Lorentz violating Hamiltonian in the neutrino sector. We work out the expected sensitivities by IceCube-Gen2 on dimension-$3$ CPT-odd and dimension-$4$ CPT-even operators in Lorentz violating Hamiltonian. The expected sensitivities can improve on the current constraints obtained from other types of experiments by more than two orders of magnitudes for certain range of the parameter space.

hep-ph

Probing Neutrino Mass Hierarchy by Comparing the Charged-Current and Neutral-Current Interaction Rates of Supernova Neutrinos

The neutrino mass hierarchy is one of the neutrino fundamental properties yet to be determined. We introduce a method to determine neutrino mass hierarchy by comparing the interaction rate of neutral current (NC) interactions, $ν(\hatν) + p\rightarrowν(\hatν) + p$, and inverse beta decays (IBD), $\barν_e + p\rightarrow n + e^+$, of supernova neutrinos in scintillation detectors. Neutrino flavor conversions inside the supernova are sensitive to neutrino mass hierarchy. Due to Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effects, the full swapping of $\barν_e$ flux with the $\barν_x$ ($x=μ,~τ$) one occurs in the inverted hierarchy, while such a swapping does not occur in the normal hierarchy. As a result, more high energy IBD events occur in the detector for the inverted hierarchy than the high energy IBD events in the normal hierarchy. By comparing IBD interaction rate with the mass hierarchy independent NC interaction rate, one can determine the neutrino mass hierarchy.

hep-ph

Signatures of the neutrino mass hierarchy in supernova neutrinos

The undetermined neutrino mass hierarchy may leave an observable imprint on the neutrino fluxes from a core-collapse supernova (SN). The interpretation of the observables, however, is subject to the uncertain SN models and the flavor conversion mechanism of neutrinos in a SN. We attempt to propose a qualitative interpretation of the expected neutrino events at terrestrial detectors, focusing on the accretion phase of the neutrino burst. The flavor conversions due to neutrino self-interaction, the MSW effect, and the Earth regeneration effect are incorporated in the calculation. It leads to several distinct scenarios that are identified by the neutrino mass hierarchies and the collective flavor transitions. Consequences resulting from the variation of incident angles and SN models are also discussed.

hep-ph

Probing Neutrino Flavor Transition Mechanism with Ultra High Energy Astrophysical Neutrinos

Observation of ultra-high energy astrophysical neutrinos and identification of their flavors have been proposed for future neutrino telescopes. The flavor ratio of astrophysical neutrinos observed on the Earth depends on both the initial flavor ratio at the source and flavor transitions taking place during propagations of these neutrinos. The flavor transition mechanisms are well-classified with our model-independent parametrization. We find a new parameter R=ϕ_e/(ϕ_μ + ϕ_τ) can probe directly the flavor transition in the framework of our model-independent parametrization, without the assumption of the ν_μ-ν_τ symmetry. A few flavor transition models are employed to test our parametrization with this new observable. The observational constraints on flavor transition mechanisms by the new observable is discussed through our model-independent parametrization.

hep-ph

The Strategy of Discrimination between Flavors for Detection of Cosmogenic Neutrinos

We propose a new method to identify flavors of ultra high energy cosmic neutrinos. Energy loss of leptons in matter provides important informations for the detection of neutrinos originated from high energy astrophysical sources. 50 years ago, Askaryan proposed to detect Cherenkov signals by radio wave from the negative charge excess of particle showers. The theory of Cherenkov pulses with Fraunhofer approximation was widely studied in the past two decades. However, at high energies or for high density materials, electromagnetic shower should be elongated due to the Landau-Pomeranchuck-Migdal (LPM) effect. As such the standard Fraunhofer approximation ceases to be valid when the distance between the shower and the detector becomes comparable with the shower length. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations recently to investigate this regime based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, and modified time domain integration method. In this work, we adopt the deduced relationship between the radio signal and the cascade development profile to investigate its implication to lepton signatures. Our method provides a straightforward technique to identify the neutrino flavor through the detected Cherenkov signals.

hep-ph

Flavor Transition Mechanisms of Propagating Astrophysical Neutrinos -A Model Independent Parametrization

One of the important goals for future neutrino telescopes is to identify the flavors of astrophysical neutrinos and therefore determine the flavor ratio. The flavor ratio of astrophysical neutrinos observed on the Earth depends on both the initial flavor ratio at the source and flavor transitions taking place during propagations of these neutrinos. We propose a model independent parametrization for describing the above flavor transitions. A few flavor transition models are employed to test our parametrization. The observational test for flavor transition mechanisms through our parametrization is discussed.

hep-ph

Neutrino Flavor Ratio on Earth and at Astrophysical Sources

We present the reconstruction of neutrino flavor ratios at astrophysical sources. For distinguishing the pion source and the muon-damped source to the 3$σ$ level, the neutrino flux ratios, $R\equivϕ(ν_μ)/(ϕ(ν_e)+ϕ(ν_τ))$ and $S\equivϕ(ν_e)/ϕ(ν_τ)$, need to be measured in accuracies better than 10%.

hep-ph

Determination of the Neutrino Flavor Ratio at the Astrophysical Source

We discuss the reconstruction of neutrino flavor ratios at astrophysical sources through the future neutrino-telescope measurements. Taking the ranges of neutrino mixing parameters $θ_{ij}$ as those given by the current global fit, we demonstrate by a statistical method that the accuracies in the measurements of energy-independent ratios $R\equivϕ(ν_μ)/(ϕ(ν_{e})+ϕ(ν_τ))$ and $S\equivϕ(ν_e)/ϕ(ν_τ)$ among integrated neutrino flux should both be better than 10% in order to distinguish between the pion source and the muon-damped source at the $3 σ$ level. The 10% accuracy needed for measuring $R$ and $S$ requires an improved understanding on the background atmospheric neutrino flux to a better than 10% level in the future. We discuss the applicability of our analysis to practical situations that the diffuse astrophysical neutrino flux arises from different types of sources and each point source has a neutrino flavor ratio varying with energies. We also discuss the effect of leptonic CP phase on the flavor-ratio reconstruction.

hep-ph

GeoSynchrotron Radiation from Earth Skimming Tau Neutrino Shower

Cosmogenic neutrinos are expected from ultrahigh energy cosmic rays undergoing the GZK process and anticipated to be observed by detecting air showers from the decays of tau leptons. We use CORSIKA simulated shower structure to calculate the coherent geosynchrotron radio emissions of the tau decay showers above $10^{17}$eV. We present the pattern and spectrum of radio waves and discuss their detections by radio antennae.

astro-ph.HE

Influence of Plasma Collective Effects on Cosmological Evolution

It is well-known that the universe was in a plasma state both before decoupling and after reionization. However, the conventional wisdom has been that the plasma effects are largely Debye-shielded and can thus be safely ignored when considering large scale evolutions. Recently we showed that large scale structure formation in the universe may actually be suppressed by the plasma collective effect. Indeed, observational data indicate that the conventional theoretical formula tends to overestimate the matter power spectrum at scales $k>1h{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$. In this paper, we further develop our theory through a more thorough and general derivation of the Maxwell-Einstein-Boltzmann equation. In addition to baryon density perturbation post reionization, we apply this general formulation to investigate the possible plasma effect on CMB anisotropy. As expected, while the plasma effect does render an observable effect to the former, its impact on the latter is totally negligible.

astro-ph

Plasma Suppression of Large Scale Structure Formation in the Universe

We point out that during the reionization epoch of the cosmic history, the plasma collective effect among the ordinary matter would suppress the large scale structure formation. The imperfect Debye shielding at finite temperature would induce a residual long-range electrostatic potential which, working together with the baryon thermal pressure, would counter the gravitational collapse. As a result the effective Jean's length, $\tildeλ_J$, is increased by a factor, $\tildeλ_J/λ_J=\sqrt{8/5}$, relative to the conventional one. For scales smaller than the effective Jean's scale the plasma would oscillate at the ion-acoustic frequency. The modes that would be influenced by this effect depend on the starting time and the initial temperature of reionization, but roughly lie in the range $0.5 h{\rm Mpc}^{-1}< k$, which corresponds to the region of the Lyman-$α$ forest from the inter-galactic medium. We predict that in the linear regime of density-contrast growth, the plasma suppression of the matter power spectrum would approach $1-(Ω_{dm}/Ω_m)^2\sim 1-(5/6)^2\sim 30%$.

astro-ph

A Lower Bound on Neutrino Mass and Its Implication on The Z-burst Scenario

We show that the cascade limit on ultra high energy cosmic neutrino (UHEC$ν$) flux imposes a lower bound on the neutrino mass provided that super-GZK events of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) are produced from Z-bursts. Based on the data from HiRes and AGASA, the obtained neutrino mass lower bound violates its existing cosmological upper bound. We conclude that the Z-bursts cannot be the dominant source for the observed super-GZK UHECR events. This is consistent with the recent ANITA-lite data.

astro-ph