Physics of Neutrino Oscillation

TL;DR

This paper reviews the physics of neutrino oscillation, including the derivation of flavor change probabilities in vacuum and matter, and discusses key parameters, properties, and open problems in neutrino physics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive derivation of neutrino oscillation probabilities and explores the effects of various parameters, including a focus on two-neutrino oscillations and foundational physics concepts.

Findings

Neutrinos have mass and undergo flavor oscillations.

Derived probabilities for neutrino flavor change in vacuum and matter.

Highlighted open problems in neutrino physics.

Abstract

The Standard Model of particle physics describes neutrinos as massless, chargeless elementary particles that come in three different flavours. However, recent experiments indicate that neutrinos not only have mass, but also have multiple mass eigenstates that are not identical to the flavour states, thereby indicating mixing. As an evidence of mixing, neutrinos have been observed to change from one flavour to another during their propagation, a phenomenon called neutrino oscillation. We have studied the reasons and derived the probabilities of neutrino flavour change, both in vacuum and in matter. We have also studied the parameters affecting this probability. We have discussed the special case of two-neutrino oscillations. Lastly, we have discussed some basic properties of neutrinos that are reflected in the previous derivations and highlighted a few relevant open problems. To begin with, we have also studied the relevant topics in introductory High Energy Physics and Quantum Mechanics to familiarize with the notations, units and methodologies that would be required for the subsequent topics.