Covariant asymmetric wave packet for a field-theoretical description of neutrino oscillations

TL;DR

This paper introduces an asymmetric wave packet model for neutrino oscillations in quantum field theory, offering an alternative to symmetric Gaussian packets with similar properties in certain regimes.

Contribution

The paper develops and analyzes a new covariant asymmetric wave packet model as an alternative to symmetric Gaussian packets for describing neutrino oscillations in QFT.

Findings

AWP is a suitable alternative to RGP for neutrino oscillation modeling

AWP and RGP share similar properties in the quasistable regime

AWP has distinct features that differentiate it from RGP

Abstract

We consider a class of models for the relativistic covariant wave packets which can be used as asymptotically free in and out states in the quantum field theoretical formalisms for description of the neutrino flavor oscillation phenomenon. We demonstrate that the new "asymmetric" wave packet (AWP) is an appropriate alternative for the more convenient "symmetric" wave packets, like the so-called relativistic Gaussian packet (RGP) widely used in the QFT-based approaches to neutrino oscillations. We show that RGP is not a particular case of AWP, although many properties of these models are almost identical in the quasistable regime. We discuss some features of AWP distinguishing it from RGP.