Probing Neutrino Hierarchy and Chirality via Wakes

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel method to measure neutrino mass and hierarchy by detecting neutrino wakes through their impact on galaxy-galaxy lensing patterns, utilizing upcoming large-scale surveys.

Contribution

It introduces a new observational technique to probe neutrino properties via their induced wakes and associated lensing distortions, potentially distinguishing neutrino hierarchies and detecting right-handed neutrinos.

Findings

Detection possible with LSST and Euclid if neutrino masses are quasidegenerate around 0.1 eV.

Future 21 cm surveys could distinguish neutrino hierarchies.

Right-handed Dirac neutrinos might be detectable through this method.

Abstract

The relic neutrinos are expected to acquire a bulk relative velocity with respect to the dark matter at low redshifts, and neutrino wakes are expected to develop downstream of the dark matter halos. We propose a method of measuring the neutrino mass based on this mechanism. This neutrino wake will cause a dipole distortion of the galaxy-galaxy lensing pattern. This effect could be detected by combining upcoming lensing surveys with a low redshift galaxy survey or a 21 cm intensity mapping survey, which can map the neutrino flow field. The data obtained with LSST and Euclid should enable us to make a positive detection if the three neutrino masses are quasidegenerate with each neutrino mass of $\sim$0.1 eV, and a future high precision 21 cm lensing survey would allow the normal hierarchy and inverted hierarchy cases to be distinguished, and even the right-handed Dirac neutrinos may be detectable.