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Robert Ehrlich

Publications and source records attributed to Robert Ehrlich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Do SN 1987A data yield the three neutrino masses?

Currently only upper limits are known for the neutrino masses based on cosmological constraints and direct neutrino mass experiments. This review explores the possibility that SN 1987A might provide actual values for the three neutrino masses and not just upper limits, a possibility first suggested by Ramanath Cowsik in 1988. Cowsik's result depends on the neutrino emissions from SN 1987A being near-simultaneous, i.e., within a time interval $\Delta t<1 s.$ Having such a brief burst, however, is contradicted by virtually all supernova neutrino emission models that include a $\Delta t>10 s$ cooling phase. Here it is explained why those neutrino emission models may be mistaken, and why the three neutrino masses suggested by the SN 1987A data might be correct even though they are larger than the upper limits implied from cosmology and direct mass experiments.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2022

A Review of Searches for Evidence of Tachyons

Here we review empirical evidence for the possible existence of tachyons, superluminal particles having m^2 < 0: The review considers searches for new particles that might be tachyons, as well as evidence that neutrinos are tachyons from data which may have been gathered for other purposes. Much of the second half of the paper is devoted to the 3 + 3 neutrino model including a tachyonic mass state, which has empirical support from a variety of areas. Although this is primarily a review article, it contains several new results.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2021

The KATRIN neutrino mass results: An alternative interpretation

The KATRIN experiment has recently reported a new upper limit to the mass of the electron neutrino of $m<0.8 eV$ (90\%CL), and a best value of $m^2= 0.26 \pm 0.34 eV^2/c^4$ based on a fit to the observed tritium beta decay spectrum. Here another interpretation of their results is discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2020

The Tachyon Nexus: An Educational Resource on Tachyons and Time Travel

A web site called The Tachyon Nexus (no relation to Tachyon Nexus Inc) is described. This web site (ehrlich.physics.edu) includes much reliable information about the controversial subjects of time travel and faster-than-light particles known as tachyons mostly from a physics point of view. This compendium of various resources should be of great value both to students seeking to learn about these subjects or to high school teachers or college professors wishing to include them in their teaching on special or general relativity.

physics.ed-ph↗
arXiv2019

First results of the KATRIN neutrino mass experiment and their consistency with an exotic $3+3$ model

Although the first results of the KATRIN neutrino mass experiment are consistent with a new improved upper limit of 1.1 eV for the effective mass of the electron neutrino, surprisingly they are also consistent with an exotic model of the neutrino masses put forward in 2013 that includes one tachyonic mass state doublet having $m^2\sim - 0.2$ keV$^2$. A definitive conclusion on the validity of the model should be possible after less than one year of KATRIN data-taking.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2019

Review of the empirical evidence for superluminal particles and the $3+3$ model of the neutrino masses

A review is given of hypothetical faster-than-light tachyons and the development of the author's $3+3$ model of the neutrino mass states, which includes one tachyonic mass state doublet. Published empirical evidence for the model is summarized, including an interpretation of the mysterious Mont Blanc neutrino burst from SN 1987A as being due to tachyonic neutrinos having $m^2=-0.38 eV^2.$ This possibility requires an 8 MeV antineutrino line from SN 1987A, which a new dark matter model has been found to support. Furthermore, this dark matter model is supported by several data sets: $γ-$rays from the galactic center, and the Kamiokande-II neutrino data on the day of SN 1987A. The KATRIN experiment should serve as the unambiguous test of the $3+3$ model and its tachyonic mass state.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2018

The Mont Blanc neutrinos from SN 1987A: Could they have been monochromatic (8 MeV) tachyons with $m^2=-0.38$ keV$^2$?

Here we consider faster-than-light neutrinos having $m_ν^2=-0.38$ $keV^2$ as the explanation of the Mont Blanc burst. It is shown that the Mont Blanc burst is consistent with the distinctive signature of that explanation i.e., an 8 MeV antineutrino line from SN 1987A. It is further shown that a model of core collapse supernovae involving dark matter particles of mass 8 MeV would in fact yield an 8 MeV antineutrino line. Moreover, that dark matter model predicts 8 MeV $ν,\barν$ and $e^+e^-$ pairs from the galactic center, a place where one would expect large amounts of dark matter to collect. The resulting $e^+$ would create $γ-$rays from the galactic center, and a fit to MeV $γ-$ray data yields the model's dark matter mass, as well as the calculated source temperature and angular size. More direct support comes from the spectrum of $N\sim1000$ events recorded by the Kamiokande-II detector on the day of SN 1987A, which appear to show an 8 MeV line atop the detector background. This $\barν$ line, if genuine, has been well-hidden for 30 years because it occurs very close to the peak of the background. This fact might ordinarily justify extreme skepticism. In the present case, however, a more positive view is called for based on (a) the very high statistical significance of the result $(30 σ),$ (b) the use of a detector background independent of the SN 1987A data using a later K-II data set, and (c) the observation of an excess above the background spectrum whose central energy and width both agree with that of an 8 MeV $\barν$ line broadened by $25\%$ resolution. Lastly, it is noted that the tachyonic interpretation of the Mont Blanc burst fits the author's earlier unconventional $3+3$ model of the neutrino mass states.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2017

Calculation of the Decay Rate of Tachyonic Neutrinos against Charged-Lepton-Pair and Neutrino-Pair Cerenkov Radiation

We consider in detail the calculation of the decay rate of high-energy superluminal neutrinos against (charged) lepton pair Cerenkov radiation (LPCR), and neutrino pair Cerenkov radiation (NPCR), i.e., against the decay channels nu -> nu e+ e- and nu -> nu nubar nu. Under the hypothesis of a tachyonic nature of neutrinos, these decay channels put constraints on the lifetime of high-energy neutrinos for terrestrial experiments as well as on cosmic scales. For the oncoming neutrino, we use the Lorentz-covariant tachyonic relation E_nu = (p^2 - m_nu^2)^(1/2), where m_nu is the tachyonic mass parameter. We derive both threshold conditions as well as decay and energy loss rates, using the plane-wave fundamental bispinor solutions of the tachyonic Dirac equation. Various intricacies of rest frame versus lab frame calculations are highlighted. The results are compared to the observations of high-energy IceCube neutrinos of cosmological origin.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2016

3 neutrino mass experiments fit a strange 3 + 3 model, but will KATRIN reveal the model's unique 3-part signature?

Evidence is presented in support of an unconventional $3+3$ model of the neutrino mass eigenstates with specific $m^2>0$ and $m^2<0$ masses. The two large $m^2>0$ masses of the model were originally suggested based on a SN 1987A analysis, and they were further supported by several dark matter fits. The new evidence for one of the $m^2>0$ mass values comes from an analysis of published data from the $\emph{three}$ most precise tritium $β-$decay experiments. The KATRIN experiment by virtue of a unique 3-part signature should either confirm or reject the model in its entirety.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2016

Lepton-pair Cerenkov radiation emitted by tachyonic neutrinos: Lorentz-covariant approach and IceCube data

Current experiments do not exclude the possibility that one or more neutrinos are very slightly superluminal or that they have a very small tachyonic mass. Important bounds on the size of a hypothetical tachyonic neutrino mass term are set by lepton pair Cerenkov radiation (LPCR), i.e., by the decay channel nu -> e^+ e^- nu which proceeds via a virtual Z0 boson. Here, we use a Lorentz-invariant dispersion relation which leads to very tight constraints on the tachyonic mass of neutrinos; we also calculate decay and energy loss rates. A possible cutoff seen in the IceCube neutrino spectrum for E_nu > 2 PeV, due to the potential onset of LPCR, is discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2015

Sterile neutrino fits to dark matter mass profiles in the Milky Way and in galaxy clusters

In several recent papers it was claimed that SN 1987A data supports the existence of 4.0 eV and 21.4 eV active neutrino mass eigenstates, and it was shown that such large masses could be made consistent with existing constraints including neutrino oscillation data and upper limits on the neutrino flavor state masses, provided that there also exist a pair of sterile neutrino mass states whose masses are nearly degenerate with the active ones, plus a third active-sterile doublet that is tachyonic ($m^2 <0$). Here, independent evidence is presented for the existence of sterile neutrinos with the previously claimed masses based on fits to the dark matter distributions in the Milky Way galaxy and four clusters of galaxies. The fits are in excellent agreement with observations. In addition, sterile neutrinos having the suggested masses address the "cusp" problem and the missing satellites problem, as well as that of the "top down" scenario of structure formation -- previously a chief drawback of HDM particles. Nevertheless, the highly controversial nature of the claim, and the need for two free parameters in the dark matter fits, additional confirming evidence will be required before it can be considered proven.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2015

Evidence for two neutrino mass eigenstates from SN 1987A and the possibility of superluminal neutrinos

This paper reports a new phenomenological analysis of the neutrino burst detected from SN 1987 A, and it reveals the presence of two mass eigenstates. The heavier mass eigenstate has $m_H=21.4 \pm 1.2 eV/c^2$, while the lighter one has $m_L=4.0 \pm0.5 eV/c^2 $. It is not the first paper to make such a claim, but it expands on a 1988 conditional analysis by Cowsik, and it attempts to make the evidence more robust through an improved statistical analysis, and through providing reasons why alternative explanations are unlikely. It also shows how the result can be made consistent with existing smaller electron neutrino mass limits with the existence of a third tachyonic (superluminal) mass eigenstate.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2015

Six observations consistent with the electron neutrino being a tachyon with mass: $m_{ν_e}^2=-0.11 \pm 0.016 eV^2$

Six observations based on data and fits to data from a variety of areas are consistent with the hypothesis that the electron neutrino is a $m_{ν_e}^2 = -0.11 \pm 0.016 eV^2$ tachyon. The data are from areas including CMB fluctuations, gravitational lensing, cosmic ray spectra, neutrino oscillations, and $0ν$ double beta decay. For each of the six observations it is possible under explicitly stated assumptions to compute a value for $m_{ν_e}^2,$ and it is found that the six values are remarkably consistent with the above cited $ν_e$ mass $(χ^2=2.73).$ There are no known observations in clear conflict with the claimed result. Three checks are proposed to test the validity of the claim, one of which could be performed using existing data.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2014

Possible evidence for a $5.86 PeV$ cosmic ray enhancement

A blind search has been made for cosmic ray sources of neutral hadrons yielding a peak just above the knee, which has resulted in possible evidence for a peak at $5.86\pm 0.75 PeV.$ This search was motivated by a 1999 claim by this author of such a peak at $4.5\pm 2.2 PeV,$ and also some recent results by at least three experiments showing a $E\approx 5.6 PeV$ peak in the all-particle cosmic ray spectrum.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2013

Could a reported 2007 analysis of Super-Kamiokande data have missed a detectable supernova signal from Andromeda?

According to a 2007 paper there was no evidence for a neutrino burst of two or more events in Super-Kamiokande (SK) during the entire period of data-taking from 1996 to 2005 from Andromeda or anywhere else. There is, however a scenario under which a detectable signal could have been missed given the search method employed by the analysis, and it would have been found using an alternate method. The alternate method depends on the hypothesis that two of the neutrino mass eigenstates have masses 4.0 eV and 21.4 eV which was inferred from an analysis of the SN 1987A data. Although one might argue that the hypothesis of such large neutrino masses is remote, there is a way they could be compatible with observed constraints on neutrino masses involving a third tachyonic ($m^2<0$) eigenstate, plus three sterile neutrinos. Given the importance of a positive supernova search result, and the ease of conducting it using existing SK data, there would seem to be little reason not to do it.

astro-ph.CO↗
arXiv2012

Tachyonic neutrinos and the neutrino masses

With a recent claim of superluminal neutrinos shown to be in error, 2012 may not be a propitious time to consider the evidence that one or more neutrinos may indeed be tachyons. Nevertheless, there are a growing number of observations that continue to suggest this possibility -- albeit with an $m_ν^2<0$ having a much smaller magnitude than was implied by the original OPERA claim. One recently published non-standard analysis of SN 1987A neutrinos supports a tachyonic mass eigenstate, and here we show how it leads to 3 + 3 mirror neutrino model having an unconventional mass hierarchy. The model incorporates one superluminal active-sterile neutrino pair, and it is testable in numerous ways, including making a surprising prediction about an unpublished aspect of the SN 1987 A neutrinos. Additional supporting evidence involving earlier analyses of cosmic rays is summarized to add credence to the tachyonic neutrino hypothesis.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2010

A Universal Hurricane Frequency Function

Evidence is provided that the global distribution of tropical hurricanes is principally determined by a universal function H of a single variable z that in turn is expressible in terms of the local sea surface temperature and latitude. The data-driven model presented here carries stark implications for the large increased numbers of hurricanes which it predicts for a warmer world. Moreover, the rise in recent decades in the numbers of hurricanes in the Atlantic, but not the Pacific basin, is shown to have a simple explanation in terms of the specific form of H(z), which yields larger percentage increases when a fixed increase in sea surface temperature occurs at higher latitudes and lower temperatures.

physics.ao-ph↗