Relic Right-handed Dirac Neutrinos and Cosmic Neutrino Background

TL;DR

This paper explores how the thermal production of right-handed Dirac neutrinos in the early Universe could influence the detection rate of cosmic neutrino background at the PTOLEMY experiment, which aims to observe relic neutrinos.

Contribution

It introduces the impact of right-handed Dirac neutrinos on cosmic neutrino detection, a novel consideration for interpreting PTOLEMY results.

Findings

Right-handed neutrinos can increase the expected capture rate.

Thermal production affects the relic neutrino density.

Implications for neutrino mass and nature detection.

Abstract

The PTOLEMY experiment, implementing a $100~{\rm g}$ surface-deposition tritium target, is promising to detect cosmic neutrino background via $\nu^{}_e + {^3}{\rm H} \to {^3}{\rm He} + e^-$. In this talk, I consider a thermal production of right-handed Dirac neutrinos in the early Universe, and investigate their impact on the capture rate of cosmic relic neutrinos at PTOLEMY.