Improved cosmological and radiative decay constraints on neutrino masses and lifetimes. [SN 1987a]

Journal Article · Mon Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.45.4720· OSTI ID:7183673

Bludman, S A ^[1]

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1. Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of California, Theory Group, Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

The best upper bounds on the masses of stable and unstable light neutrinos derive from the upper bound on the total mass density, as inferred from the lower limit {ital t}{sub 0}{gt}13 Gyr on the dynamical age of the Universe: If the Universe is matter dominated, {ital m}{sub {nu}}{lt}35 (23){times}max(1,({ital t}{sub 0}/{tau}{sub {nu}}){sup 1/2}) eV, accordingly as a cosmological constant is (is not) allowed. The best bounds on the radiative decay of light neutrinos derive from the failure to observe prompt {gamma} rays accompanying the neutrinos from supernova 1987A: For any {ital m}{sub {nu}}{gt}630 eV, this provides a stronger bound on the neutrino transition moment than that obtained from red giants or white dwarfs. Our results improve on earlier cosmological and radiative decay constraints by an overall factor 20 and allow neutrinos more massive than 35 eV only if they decay overwhelmingly into singlet Majorons or other new particles with a lifetime less than one month. We review the 17-keV neutrino situation in order to stress that (1) its existence may be resolved by modest improvements in neutrino oscillation probabilities, and (2) double {beta} decay and nucleosynthesis constraints require that its massive partner be an active neutrino, but allow solar neutrinos to oscillate into low-mass sterile neutrinos.

• OSTI ID: 7183673
• Journal Information: Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States), Vol. 45:12; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
NEUTRINOS
RADIATIVE DECAY
ANNIHILATION
BETA DECAY
ENERGY DENSITY
GAMMA RADIATION
LIFETIME
MASS SPECTRA
NEUTRINO OSCILLATION
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PROBABILITY
SOLAR NEUTRONS
SPECTROMETERS
SUPERNOVAE
SYMMETRY BREAKING
UNIVERSE
BARYONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
DECAY
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR DECAY
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE DECAY
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
RADIATIONS
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR RADIATION
SPECTRA
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION
SYNTHESIS
VARIABLE STARS
662370* - Decays of Leptons- (1992-)
662390 - Electromagnetic Processes & Properties- (1992-)
662120 - General Theory of Particles & Fields- Symmetry
Conservation Laws
Currents & Their Properties- (1992-)