The neutrino spectral split in core-collapse supernovae: a magnetic resonance phenomenon

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the spectral split in supernova neutrinos is caused by a magnetic resonance phenomenon, linking precession frequencies to spectral swaps through numerical analysis.

Contribution

It reveals for the first time that the neutrino spectral split is driven by a magnetic resonance mechanism using polarization vector formalism.

Findings

Spectral split corresponds to magnetic resonance conditions.

Resonance locations match the energies of spectral swaps.

Adiabaticity parameters spike at resonance points.

Abstract

A variety of neutrino flavour conversion phenomena occur in core-collapse supernova, due to the large neutrino density close to the neutrinosphere, and the importance of the neutrino-neutrino interaction. Three different regimes have been identified so far, usually called the synchronization, the bipolar oscillations and the spectral split. Using the formalism of polarization vectors, within two-flavours, we focus on the spectral split phenomenon and we show for the first time that the physical mechanism underlying the neutrino spectral split is a magnetic resonance phenomenon. In particular, we show that the precession frequencies fulfill the magnetic resonance conditions. Our numerical calculations show that the neutrino energies and the location at which the resonance takes place in the supernova coincide well with the neutrino energies at which a spectral swap occurs. The corresponding adiabaticity parameters present spikes at the resonance location.