Oscillating Decay Rate in Electron Capture and the Neutrino Mass Difference

TL;DR

This paper examines whether quantum mechanics can explain observed oscillations in electron capture decay rates and how these relate to neutrino mass differences, clarifying theoretical conditions and experimental needs.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum mechanics permits mass-difference-dependent oscillations but highlights that existing models do not satisfy necessary conditions, guiding future research.

Findings

Quantum mechanics allows oscillations dependent on neutrino mass differences.

Existing models do not meet the conditions required for such oscillations.

Experimental and theoretical work is needed to clarify the phenomenon.

Abstract

Reported oscillations in the rate of decay of certain ions by K-electron capture have raised questions about whether and how such oscillations can arise in quantum mechanical theory and whether they can measure the neutrino mass difference. Here I show that simple principles of quantum mechanics answer some questions and clarify what must be done theoretically or experimentally to answer some others. The principal result is that quantum mechanics does allow mass-difference-dependent oscillations in principle, but it imposes conditions not obeyed by the approximate dynamical models that have been put forth up to now. What needs to be done experimentally and theoretically is discussed.