Relaxing neutrino mass bounds by a running cosmological constant

TL;DR

This paper proposes that quantum field effects of relic neutrinos cause a running cosmological constant, which reduces neutrino relic abundance and relaxes existing cosmological neutrino mass bounds, with potential for future observational tests.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism linking neutrino quantum fields to dark energy via a running cosmological constant, affecting neutrino mass constraints.

Findings

Relic neutrino abundance can be significantly reduced.

Current neutrino mass bounds can be largely evaded.

Future surveys could test the proposed scenario.

Abstract

We establish an indirect link between relic neutrinos and the dark energy sector which originates from the vacuum energy contributions of the neutrino quantum fields. Via renormalization group effects they induce a running of the cosmological constant with time which dynamically influences the evolution of the cosmic neutrino background. We demonstrate that the resulting reduction of the relic neutrino abundance allows to largely evade current cosmological neutrino mass bounds and discuss how the scenario might be probed by the help of future large scale structure surveys and Planck data.