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S. Esposito

Publications and source records attributed to S. Esposito.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
arXiv2001

On a universal photonic tunnelling time

We consider photonic tunnelling through evanescent regions and obtain general analytic expressions for the transit (phase) time $τ$ (in the opaque barrier limit) in order to study the recently proposed ``universality'' property according to which $τ$ is given by the reciprocal of the photon frequency. We consider different physical phenomena (corresponding to performed experiments) and show that such a property is only an approximation. In particular we find that the ``correction'' factor is a constant term for total internal reflection and quarter-wave photonic bandgap, while it is frequency-dependent in the case of undersized waveguide and distributed Bragg reflector. The comparison of our predictions with the experimental results shows quite a good agreement with observations and reveals the range of applicability of the approximated ``universality'' property.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2000

Non equilibrium spectra of degenerate relic neutrinos

We calculate the exact kinetic evolution of cosmic neutrinos until complete decoupling, in the case when a large neutrino asymmetry exists. While not excluded by present observations, this large asymmetry can have relevant cosmological consequences and in particular may be helpful in reconciling Primordial Nucleosynthesis with a high baryon density as suggested by the most recent observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation. By solving numerically the Boltzmann kinetic equations for the neutrino distribution functions, we find the momentum-dependent corrections to the equilibrium spectra and briefly discuss their phenomenological implications.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2000

The standard and degenerate primordial nucleosynthesis versus recent experimental data

We report the results on Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) based on an updated code, with accuracy of the order of 0.1% on He4 abundance, compared with the predictions of other recent similar analysis. We discuss the compatibility of the theoretical results, for vanishing neutrino chemical potentials, with the observational data. Bounds on the number of relativistic neutrinos and baryon abundance are obtained by a likelihood analysis. We also analyze the effect of large neutrino chemical potentials on primordial nucleosynthesis, motivated by the recent results on the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation spectrum. The BBN exclusion plots for electron neutrino chemical potential and the effective number of relativistic neutrinos are reported. We find that the standard BBN seems to be only marginally in agreement with the recent BOOMERANG and MAXIMA-1 results, while the agreement is much better for degenerate BBN scenarios for large effective number of neutrinos, N_ν\sim 10.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2000

Testing Standard and Degenerate Big Bang Nucleosynthesis with BOOMERanG and MAXIMA-1

We test different Big Bang Nucleosynthesis scenarios using the recent results on the Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies provided by the BOOMERanG and MAXIMA-1 experiments versus the observed abundances of 4He, D and 7Li. The likelihood analysis, based on Bayesian approach, shows that, in the case of high deuterium abundance, Y_D=(2.0\pm0.5) 10^{-4}, both standard and degenerate BBN are inconsistent with the CMBR measurement at more than 3 σ. Assuming low deuterium abundance, Y_D=(3.4\pm0.3) 10^{-5}, the standard BBN model is still inconsistent with present observations at 2 σlevel, while the degenerate BBN results to be compatible. Unless systematics effects will be found in nuclide abundances and/or in CMBR data analysis this result may be a signal in favour of new physics like a large chemical potential of the relic neutrino-antineutrino background.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1999

The action of neutrino ponderomotive force on supernova dynamics

Collective interactions of a beam of neutrinos/antineutrinos traversing a dense magnetized plasma of electrons/positrons, protons and neutrons are studied with particular reference to the case of a Supernova. We find that the ponderomotive force exerted by neutrinos gives, contrary to expectations, a negligible contribution to the revival of the shock for a successful Supernova explosion, although new types of convection and plasma cooling processes induced by the ponderomotive force could be, in principle, relevant for the dynamics itself.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

New results in primordial nucleosynthesis

We report the results of a new accurate evaluation of light nuclei yields in primordial nucleosynthesis. The relic densities of 4He, D and 7Li have been numerically obtained via a new updated version of the standard BBN code.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1999

Primordial Nucleosynthesis: Accurate Predictions

A new accurate evaluation of primordial light nuclei abundances is presented. The proton to neutron conversion rates have been corrected to take into account radiative effects, finite nucleon mass, thermal and plasma corrections. The theoretical uncertainty on 4He is so reduced to the order of 0.1%.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1999

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis: an accurate determination of light element yields

We report the results of a new accurate evaluation of light nuclei yields in primordial nucleosynthesis. All radiative effects, finite nucleon mass, thermal and plasma corrections are included in the proton to neutron conversion rates. The relic densities of He4, D and Li7 have been numerically obtained via a new updated version of the standard BBN code. In particular the theoretical uncertainty on He4 is reduced to the order of 0.1%.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1999

Primordial Nucleosynthesis: accurate predictions for light element abundances

A detailed analysis of primordial nucleosynthesis predictions for light element abundances is performed. Contents: 1. The standard cosmology: an overview. 2. Primordial nucleosynthesis. 3. The Born rates for n<->p reactions. 4. Finite nucleon mass corrections. 5. QED thermal radiative corrections. 6. Calculations of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis. Results.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1999

On the role of Spin in Quantum Mechanics

From the invariance properties of the Schrodinger equation and the isotropy of space we show that a generic (non-relativistic) quantum system is endowed with an ``external'' motion, which can be interpreted as the motion of the centre of mass, and an ``internal'' one, whose presence disappears in the classical limit. The latter is caused by the spin of the particle, whatever is its actual value (different from zero). The quantum potential in the Schrodinger equation, which is responsible of the quantum effects of the system, is then completely determined from the properties of the internal motion, and its ``unusual'' properties have a simple and physical explanation in the present context. From the impossibility to fix the initial conditions relevant for the internal motion follows, finally, the need of a probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1998

Precision Rates for Nucleon Weak Interactions in Primordial Nucleosynthesis and He-4 Abundance

We report the results of a detailed calculation of nucleon weak interactions relevant for the neutron to proton density ratio at the onset of primordial nucleosynthesis. Radiative electromagnetic corrections, finite nucleon mass terms, thermal radiative effects on weak processes and on neutrino temperature are taken into account to reduce the theoretical uncertainty on $n \leftrightarrow p $ rates to 1%. This translates into a sensitivity in $^4 He$ mass fraction $Y_p$ prediction up to $10^{-4}$. We find a positive total correction to the Born prediction $δY_p \simeq 0.004$.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1998

Wave Function Renormalization at Finite Temperature

We present a derivation of the medium dependent wave function renormalization for a spinor field in presence of a thermal bath. We show that, as already pointed out in literature, projector operators are not multiplicatively renormalized and the effect involves a non trivial spinor dependence, which disappears in the zero temperature covariant limit. The results, which differ from what already found in literature, are then applied to the decay of a massive scalar boson into two fermions and to the $β$--decay and crossed related processes relevant for primordial nucleosynthesis.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Flavour transitions of Dirac-Majorana neutrinos

From a phenomenological point of view, we study active-active and active-sterile flavour-changing (and flavour-conserving) oscillations of Dirac-Majorana neutrinos both in vacuum and in matter. The general expressions for the transition probabilities in vacuum are reported. We then investigate some interesting consequences following from particular simple forms of the neutrino mass matrices, and for the envisaged scenarios we discuss in detail neutrino propagation in matter. Special emphasis is given to the problem of occurrence of resonant enhancement of active-active and active-sterile neutrino oscillations in a medium. The peculiar novel features related to the Dirac-Majorana nature of neutrinos are particularly pointed out.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Radiation Induced Fermion Resonance

The Dirac equation is solved for two novel terms which describe the interaction energy between the half integral spin of a fermion and the classical, circularly polarized, electromagnetic field. A simple experiment is suggested to test the new terms and the existence of radiation induced fermion resonance.

physics.optics↗
arXiv1998

Flavour-conserving oscillations of Dirac-Majorana neutrinos

We analyze both chirality-changing and chirality-preserving transitions of Dirac-Majorana neutrinos. In vacuum, the first ones are suppressed with respect to the others due to helicity conservation and the interactions with a (``normal'') medium practically does not affect the expressions of the probabilities for these transitions, even if the amplitudes of oscillations slightly change. For usual situations involving relativistic neutrinos we find no resonant enhancement for all flavour-conserving transitions. However, for very light neutrinos propagating in superdense media, the pattern of oscillations $ν_L \to ν^C_L$ is dramatically altered with respect to the vacuum case, the transition probability practically vanishing. An application of this result is envisaged.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Pontecorvo neutrino-antineutrino oscillations: theory and experimental limits

We study Pontecorvo neutrino-antineutrino oscillations both in vacuum and in matter within a field theoretic approach, showing that this phenomenon can occur only if neutrinos have a Dirac-Majorana mass term. We find that matter effects suppress these oscillations and cannot explain the solar neutrino problem. On the contrary, a vacuum neutrino-antineutrino oscillations solution to this problem exists. We analyze this solution and available data from laboratory experiments giving stringent limits on $ν_e$ and $ν_μ$ Majorana masses.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Three Flavour Majorana Neutrinos with Magnetic Moments in a Supernova

The resonant transition effects MSW and NSFP for three flavour Majorana neutrinos in a supernova are considered, where the transition magnetic moments are likely to play a relevant role in neutrino physics. In this scenario, the deformed thermal neutrino distributions are obtained for different choices of the electron-tau mixing angle. Detailed predictions for the future large neutrino detectors are also given in terms of the ratio between the spectra of recoil electrons for deformed and undeformed spectra.

hep-ph↗