Neutrino mass as the probe of intermediate mass scales
A discussion of the calculability of neutrino mass is presented. The possibility of neutrinos being either Dirac or Majorana particles is analyzed in detail. Arguments are offered in favor of the Majorana case: the smallness of neutrino mass is linked to the maximality of parity violation in weak interactions. It is shown how the measured value of neutrino mass would probe the existence of an intermediate mass scale, presumably in the TeV region, at which parity is supposed to become a good symmetry. Experimental consequences of the proposed scheme are discussed, in particular the neutrino-less double ..beta.. decay, where observation would provide a crucial test of the model, and rare muon decays such as ..mu.. ..-->.. e..gamma.. and ..mu.. ..-->.. ee anti e. Finally, the embedding of this model in an O(10) grand unified theory is analyzed, with the emphasis on the implications for intermediate mass scales that it offers. It is concluded that the proposed scheme provides a distinct and testable alternative for understanding the smallness of neutrino mass. 4 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 7025961
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-28671; CONF-8010127-4; TRN: 81-001520
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Neutrino mass mini-conference, Cable, WI, USA, 1 Oct 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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LEPTON NUMBER
CONSERVATION LAWS
NEUTRINOS
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WEAK INTERACTIONS
P INVARIANCE
LEPTONIC DECAY
BASIC INTERACTIONS
DECAY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
INTERACTIONS
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PARTICLE DECAY
WEAK PARTICLE DECAY
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