arXiv subjects

Y. Farzan

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Farzan.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Flavorful Interactions of AGN Neutrinos with Dark Matter Spike

IceCube-Gen2 is going to make the dream of precise flavor ratio measurement for high energy cosmic neutrinos a reality. Motivated by this prospect, we build a model for the interaction of neutrinos with the dark matter and study the impact of the neutrino interaction with the dark matter spike around active galactic nuclei on the neutrino flavor ratio measurement. We show that the flavor measurement by IceCube-Gen2 can discriminate between this model and the standard expectation, $(\nu_e^\oplus:\nu_\mu^\oplus:\nu_\tau^\oplus)\simeq (1/3:1/3:1/3)$, as well as the prediction for a damped muon source. We discuss how we can derive information about the spike as well as about the characteristics of the dark matter particles composing it by combining the flavor ratio measurements with the results of the terrestrial experiments determining the neutrino mass ordering and a potential deviation from the standard model predictions in the measurements of the tau decay modes.

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arXiv2025

Constraining axial non-standard neutrino interactions with MINOS and MINOS+

We show that the neutral current data of the MINOS and MINOS+ experiments can provide information on the axial neutral current non-standard interactions of neutrinos with the $u$ and $d$ quarks; {\it i.e.,} on $\epsilon_{\alpha \beta}^{Aq}$. We derive bounds on the $ee$, $e\tau$ and $\tau \tau$ components of these couplings and show that the MINOS(+) bounds on $\epsilon^{Aq}_{e\tau}$ and $\epsilon^{Aq}_{\tau\tau}$ are currently the world leading ones. The bound on the isospin singlet case, $\epsilon^{Au}_{\tau\tau}=\epsilon^{Ad}_{\tau\tau}$ is of particular interest because while this isospin singlet NSI is theoretically motivated, it was practically unconstrained before these results.

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arXiv2023

Revisiting pseudo-Dirac neutrino scenario after recent solar neutrino data

It is still unknown whether the mass terms for neutrinos are of Majorana type or of Dirac type. An interesting possibility, known as pseudo-Dirac scheme combines these two with a dominant Dirac mass term and a subdominant Majorana one. As a result, the mass eigenstates come in pairs with a maximal mixing and a small splitting determined by the Majorana mass. This will affect the neutrino oscillation pattern for long baselines. We revisit this scenario employing recent solar neutrino data, including the seasonal variation of the $^7$Be flux recently reported by BOREXINO. We constrain the splitting using these data and find that both the time integrated solar neutrino data and the seasonal variation independently point towards a new pseudo-Dirac solution with nonzero splitting for $ν_2$ of $Δm_2^2\simeq 1.5\times 10^{-11}$ eV$^2$. We propose alternative methods to test this new solution. In particular, we point out the importance of measuring the solar neutrino flux at the intermediate energies $1.5~{\rm MeV}<E_ν<3.5~{\rm MeV}$ (below the Super-Kamiokande detection threshold) as well as a more precise measurement of the $pep$ flux. The code is available on \href{https://github.com/SaeedAnsarifard/SolarNeutrinos-pseudoDirac.git}{Github}

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arXiv2022

Snowmass White Paper: Beyond the Standard Model effects on Neutrino Flavor

Neutrinos are one of the most promising messengers for signals of new physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM). On the theoretical side, their elusive nature, combined with their unknown mass mechanism, seems to indicate that the neutrino sector is indeed opening a window to new physics. On the experimental side, several long-standing anomalies have been reported in the past decades, providing a strong motivation to thoroughly test the standard three-neutrino oscillation paradigm. In this Snowmass21 white paper, we explore the potential of current and future neutrino experiments to explore BSM effects on neutrino flavor during the next decade.

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arXiv2022

Neutral Exotica at FASER$ν$ and SND@LHC

The $(g-2)_μ$ anomaly indicates that the second generation of leptons should have new interactions beyond the standard model. The high flux of $ν_μ$ and $\barν_μ$ at the forward experiments such as FASER$ν$ and SND@LHC makes them suitable setups to search for new interactions of the second generation leptons. In this paper, we build a model in which the second generation left-handed leptons couple to a new right-handed neutrino, $N$ and a new Higgs doublet which also couples to the quarks. The scattering of high energy $ν_μ$ off nuclei can produce $N$. We investigate how forward experiments can test this model by looking for the $N$ production vertex followed by the displaced vertex of the $N$ decay. Discovering even a single such event can be a harbinger to look for the spectacular signals of the new Higgs doublet production at the LHC. We discuss the possibility of explaining the $(g-2)_μ$ anomaly by adding more generations of $N$ which will lead to chain decays of $N$ and multiple leptons with distinct signals both at forward experiments and at the CMS and ATLAS detectors. Finally, we show that by adding a new light singlet scalar mixed with the neutral component of the new Higgs doublet ({\it i.e.,} 2HDM+$S$ model), the statistics of the data sample can be dramatically increased.

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arXiv2018

Neutrino oscillations and Non-Standard Interactions

Current neutrino experiments measure the neutrino mixing parameters with an unprecedented accuracy. The upcoming generation of experiments will be sensitive to subdominant effects that can give information on the unknown neutrino parameters: the Dirac CP-violating phase, the mass ordering and the $θ_{23}$ octant. Determining the exact values of neutrino mass and mixing parameters is crucial to test neutrino models and flavor symmetries. In the first part of this review, we summarize the current status of neutrino oscillation parameters. We consider the most recent data from solar experiments and the atmospheric data from Super-Kamiokande, IceCube and ANTARES. We implement the data from the reactor experiments KamLAND, Daya Bay, RENO and Double Chooz as well as the long baseline data from MINOS, T2K and NOvA. If in addition to the standard interactions, neutrinos have subdominant Non-Standard Interactions (NSI) with matter, extracting the values of these parameters will suffer from new degeneracies. We review such effects and formulate the conditions on the NSI parameters under which the precision measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters can be distorted. Like standard weak interactions, NSI can be categorized into Charged and Neutral Current NSI. Our focus will be on NC NSI since it is possible to build a class of models giving rise to sizeable NC NSI with effects on neutrino oscillations. These models are based on new $U(1)$ gauge symmetry with a boson of mass $\lesssim 10$ MeV. The UV complete model should be electroweak invariant which implies that along with neutrinos, charged fermions acquire new interactions on which there are strong bounds. We enumerate the bounds that exist on such models and show that it is possible to build viable models avoiding all the bounds. We review methods to test these models and suggest approaches to break the degeneracies caused by NSI.

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arXiv2007

Leptonic CP violation: zero, maximal or between the two extremes

Discovery of the CP-violation in the lepton sector is one of the challenges of the particle physics. We search for possible principles, symmetries and phenomenological relations that can lead to particular values of the CP-violating Dirac phase, $δ$. In this connection we discuss two extreme cases: the zero phase, $δ= 0$, and the maximal CP-violation, $δ= \pm π/2$, and relate them to the peculiar pattern of the neutrino mixing. The maximal CP-violation can be related to the $ν_μ- ν_τ$ reflection symmetry. We study various aspects of this symmetry and introduce a generalized reflection symmetry that can lead to an arbitrary phase that depends on the parameter of the symmetry transformation. The generalized reflection symmetry predicts a simple relation between the Dirac and Majorana phases. We also consider the possibility of certain relations between the CP-violating phases in the quark and lepton sectors.

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arXiv2007

Are small neutrino masses unveiling the missing mass problem of the Universe?

We present a scenario in which a remarkably simple relation linking dark matter properties and neutrino masses naturally emerges. This framework points towards a low energy theory where the neutrino mass originates from the existence of a light scalar dark matter particle in the MeV mass range. A very surprising aspect of this scenario is that the required MeV dark matter is one of the favoured candidates to explain the mysterious emission of 511 keV photons in the centre of our galaxy. A possible interpretation of these findings is that dark matter is the stepping stone of a theory beyond the standard model instead of being an embarrassing relic whose energy density must be accounted for in any successful model building.

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arXiv2006

On the Sources of CP-violation Contributing to the Electric Dipole Moments

In the framework of seesaw mechanism embedded in the constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (cMSSM), phases of neutrino Yukawa coupling, $μ$-term and $A$-terms can all contribute to the Electric Dipole Moment (EDM) of the electron. We discuss and classify the situations for which by combined analysis of the upcoming results on $d_e$, $d_{\rm Hg}$ and $d_D$ discriminating between these sources will be possible.

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arXiv2006

Correlating Mu Parameter and Right-Handed Neutrino Masses in N=1 Supergravity

The minimal supersymmetric standard model, when extended to embed the seesaw mechanism, obtains two dimensionful parameters in its superpotential: the mu parameter and the right-handed neutrino mass M_N. These mass parameters, belonging to the supersymmetric sector of the theory, pose serious naturalness problems as their scales are left completely undetermined. In fact, for correct phenomenology, mu must be stabilized at the electroweak scale while M_N lies at an intermediate scale. In this work we construct an explicit model of the hidden sector of N=1 supergravity for inducing both mu and M_N at their right scales. The model we build utilizes lepton number conservation and continuous R invariance as two fundamental global symmetries to forbid bare mu and M_N appearing in the superpotential, and induces them at phenomenologically desired scales via spontaneous breakdown of the global symmetries and the supergravity. We discuss briefly various phenomenological implications of the model.

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arXiv2005

Can Measurements of Electric Dipole Moments Determine the Seesaw Parameters?

In the context of the supersymmetrized seesaw mechanism embedded in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), complex neutrino Yukawa couplings can induce Electric Dipole Moments (EDMs) for the charged leptons, providing an additional route to seesaw parameters. However, the complex neutrino Yukawa matrix is not the only possible source of CP violation. Even in the framework of Constrained MSSM (CMSSM), there are additional sources, usually attributed to the phases of the trilinear soft supersymmetry breaking couplings and the mu-term, which contribute not only to the electron EDM but also to the EDMs of neutron and heavy nuclei. In this work, by combining bounds on various EDMs, we analyze how the sources of CP violation can be discriminated by the present and planned EDM experiments.

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arXiv2005

R-parity violation assisted thermal leptogenesis in the seesaw mechanism

Successful leptogenesis within the simplest type I supersymmetric seesaw mechanism requires the lightest of the three right-handed neutrino supermultiplets to be heavier than $\sim10^9$ GeV. Thermal production of such (s)neutrinos requires very high reheating temperatures which result in an overproduction of gravitinos with catastrophic consequences for the evolution of the universe. In this letter, we let R-parity be violated through a $λ_i \hat{N}_i \hat{H}_u \hat{H}_d$ term in the superpotential, where $\hat{N}_i$ are right-handed neutrino supermultiplets. We show that in the presence of this term, the produced lepton-antilepton asymmetry can be enhanced. As a result, even for $\hat{N}_1$ masses as low as $10^6$ GeV or less, we can obtain the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe without gravitino overproduction.

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arXiv2005

Pulsar Kicks from Majoron Emission

We show that Majoron emission from a hot nascent neutron star can be anisotropic in the presence of a strong magnetic field. If Majorons carry a non-negligible fraction of the supernova energy, the resulting recoil velocity of a neutron star can explain the observed velocities of pulsars.

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arXiv2003

On the Effective Mass of the Electron Neutrino in Beta Decay

In the presence of mixing between massive neutrino states, the distortion of the electron spectrum in beta decay is, in general, a function of several masses and mixing angles. For $3ν$-schemes which describe the solar and atmospheric neutrino data, this distortion can be described by a single effective mass, under certain conditions. In the literature, two different definitions for the effective mass have been suggested. We show that for quasi-degenerate mass schemes (with an overall mass scale $m$ and splitting $Δm^2$) the two definitions coincide up to $(Δm^2)^2/m^4$ corrections. We consider the impact of different effective masses on the integral energy spectrum. We show that the spectrum with a single mass can be used also to fit the data in the case of $4ν$-schemes motivated, in particular, by the LSND results. In this case the accuracy of the mass determination turns out to be better than $(10 - 15)%$.

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arXiv2002

Leptonic Unitarity Triangle and CP-violation

The area of the unitarity triangle is a measure of CP-violation. We introduce the leptonic unitarity triangles and study their properties. We consider the possibility of reconstructing the unitarity triangle in future oscillation and non-oscillation experiments. A set of measurements is suggested which will, in principle, allow us to measure all sides of the triangle, and consequently to establish CP-violation. For different values of the CP-violating phase, $δ_D$, the required accuracy of measurements is estimated. The key elements of the method include determination of $|U_{e3}|$ and studies of the $ν_μ - ν_μ$ survival probability in oscillations driven by the solar mass splitting $Δm^2_{sun}$. We suggest additional astrophysical measurements which may help to reconstruct the triangle. The method of the unitarity triangle is complementary to the direct measurements of CP-asymmetry. It requires mainly studies of the {\it survival} probabilities and processes where oscillations are averaged or the coherence of the state is lost.

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arXiv2001

Neutrino Mass Spectrum and Future Beta Decay Experiments

We study the discovery potential of future beta decay experiments on searches for the neutrino mass in the sub-eV range, and, in particular, KATRIN experiment with sensitivity $m > 0.3$ eV. Effects of neutrino mass and mixing on the beta decay spectrum in the neutrino schemes which explain the solar and atmospheric neutrino data are discussed. The schemes which lead to observable effects contain one or two sets of quasi-degenerate states. Future beta decay measurements will allow to check the three neutrino scheme with mass degeneracy, moreover, the possibility appears to measure the CP-violating Majorana phase. Effects in the four neutrino schemes which can also explain the LSND data are strongly restricted by the results of Bugey and CHOOZ oscillation experiments: Apart from bending of the spectrum and the shift of the end point one expects appearance of small kink of ($ < 2% $) size or suppressed tail after bending of the spectrum with rate below 2 % of the expected rate for zero neutrino mass. We consider possible implications of future beta decay experiments for the neutrino mass spectrum, the determination of the absolute scale of neutrino mass and for establishing the nature of neutrinos. We show that beta decay measurements in combination with data from the oscillation and double beta decay experiments will allow to establish the structure of the scheme (hierarchical or non-hierarchical), the type of the hierarchy or ordering of states (normal or inverted) and to measure the relative CP-violating phase in the solar pair of states.

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