Revisiting the quantum decoherence scenario as an explanation for the LSND anomaly

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum decoherence model with energy-dependent parameters to explain the LSND anomaly, fitting existing data without introducing sterile neutrinos and predicting null results for MiniBooNE.

Contribution

It introduces an energy-dependent decoherence scenario that explains the LSND anomaly while remaining consistent with global neutrino data and avoiding conflicts with cosmology.

Findings

Decoherence effects are suppressed outside the 20-50 MeV energy range.

The model alleviates tension between LSND and KARMEN data.

Predicts null results for MiniBooNE and testability at future reactor experiments.

Abstract

We propose an explanation for the LSND anomaly based on quantum decoherence, postulating an exponential behavior for the decoherence parameters as a function of the neutrino energy. Within this ansatz decoherence effects are suppressed for neutrino energies above 200 MeV as well as around and below few MeV, restricting deviations from standard three-flavour oscillations only to the LSND energy range of 20--50 MeV. The scenario is consistent with the global data on neutrino oscillations, alleviates the tension between LSND and KARMEN, and predicts a null-result for MiniBooNE. No sterile neutrinos are introduced, conflict with cosmology is avoided, and no tension between short-baseline appearance and disappearance data arises. The proposal can be tested at planned reactor experiments with baselines of around 50 km, such as JUNO or RENO-50.