Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein enhancement of oscillations as a possible solution to the solar-neutrino problem
Mikheyev and Smirnov have observed that neutrino oscillations in the Sun can be greatly enhanced through the mechanism of Wolfenstein matter oscillations. We develop a qualitative understanding of this phenomenon in the small-mixing-angle limit and carry out extensive calculations in order to apply it to the solar-neutrino problem. Our simple theoretical model agrees remarkably well with the calculations. After determining those values of ..delta..m-italic/sup 2/ and sin/sup 2/2theta in the small-mixing-angle limit for which the /sup 8/B plus /sup 7/Be neutrino capture rate in /sup 37/Cl is suppressed by a factor 2--4, we predict the corresponding capture rate for p-italicp-italic plus /sup 7/Be neutrinos in /sup 71/Ga. The gallium capture rate can range from no reduction to a factor of 10 reduction. We also determine the modified spectrum of /sup 8/B neutrinos arriving at Earth and discuss the importance of this spectrum as a means of choosing between oscillations and the solar model as the cause of the solar-neutrino problem, and also as a means of distinguishing between different sets of oscillation parameters.
- Research Organization:
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
- OSTI ID:
- 5648878
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. D; (United States) Vol. 34:4; ISSN PRVDA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
645203 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Theoretical-- Weak Interactions & Properties
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BERYLLIUM 7
BERYLLIUM ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BORON 8
BORON ISOTOPES
CAPTURE
CHLORINE 37
CHLORINE ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
GALLIUM 71
GALLIUM ISOTOPES
INTERACTIONS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEPTON REACTIONS
LEPTON-BARYON INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-HADRON INTERACTIONS
LEPTON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
LEPTONS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS DIFFERENCE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
NEUTRINO OSCILLATION
NEUTRINO REACTIONS
NEUTRINO-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
NEUTRINOS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
SECONDS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
SOLAR NEUTRINOS
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
STABLE ISOTOPES
STELLAR RADIATION