NSI can improve LMA predictions: neutrino decay in solar matter?

TL;DR

This paper explores how non-standard interactions (NSI) could resolve discrepancies in solar neutrino observations and suggests potential neutrino decay into majorons, with implications for neutrino physics.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that NSI can reconcile solar neutrino data with LMA predictions and introduces the possibility of neutrino decay into majorons within this framework.

Findings

NSI can flatten the electron spectrum in SuperKamiokande.

NSI predictions for Chlorine rate align better with experimental data.

Neutrino decay into majorons is possible but has a low probability.

Abstract

We investigate the prospects for non-standard interactions (NSI) in solar neutrino propagation and detection and find that these may solve the tension between the observed flatness of the SuperKamiokande electron spectrum and its LMA prediction which has a clear negative slope. Also the Cl rate prediction from NSI comes within 1$\sigma$ of its experimental value instead of the LMA one which lies more than 2$\sigma$ above. A remarkable consequence of NSI for solar neutrinos is the possibility of neutrino decay into majorons and antineutrinos whose appearance probability is calculated but found to be rather small.