Title: Compact perturbative expressions for oscillations with sterile neutrinos in matter

Abstract

We extend a simple and compact method for calculating the three flavor neutrino oscillation probabilities in uniform matter density to schemes with sterile neutrinos, with favorable features inherited. The only constraint of the extended method is that the scale of the matter potential is not significantly larger than the atmospheric $$\Delta m^2$$, which is satisfied by all the running and proposed accelerator oscillation experiments. Degeneracy of the zeroth order eigensystem around solar and atmospheric resonances are resolved. Corrections to the zeroth order results are restricted to no larger than the ratio of the solar to the atmospheric $$\Delta m^2$$. The zeroth order expressions are exact in vacuum because all the higher order corrections vanish when the matter potential is set zero. Also because all the corrections are continuous functions of matter potential, the zeroth order precision is much better than $$\Delta m^2_\odot/\Delta m^2_\text{atm}$$ for weak matter effect. Numerical tests are presented to verify the theoretical predictions of the exceptional features. Moreover, possible applications of the method in experiments to check the existence of sterile neutrinos are discussed.

Authors:

Parke, Stephen J. ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2028-6782"

Zhang, Xining

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8959-8405"

Publication Date:

Thu Mar 05 00:00:00 EST 2020

Research Org.:

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); Marie Sklodowska Curie Grant

OSTI Identifier:

1603737

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1527394

Report Number(s):

arXiv:1905.01356; FERMILAB-PUB-19-042-T
Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010; PRVDAQ; 056005

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-07CH11359; 690575; 674896

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Physical Review. D.

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Volume: 101 Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010

Publisher:

American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; Neutrino oscillations