Symmetry breaking, and the effect of matter density on neutrino oscillation

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model where neutrino mass depends on matter density through a scalar field, affecting neutrino oscillations and potentially explaining anomalies in neutrino data related to density variations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel neutrino mass mechanism linked to matter density via a scalar field with symmetry breaking, impacting neutrino oscillation behavior.

Findings

Neutrino mass varies with matter density due to scalar field dynamics.

Oscillation length and MSW effect are influenced by the density-dependent neutrino mass.

The model offers insights into neutrino anomalies related to different environmental densities.

Abstract

A proposal for the neutrino mass, based on neutrino-scalar field interaction, is introduced. The scalar field is also non-minimally coupled to the Ricci scalar and hence relates the neutrino mass to the matter density. In a dense region, the scalar field obeys the $Z_2$ symmetry, and the neutrino is massless. In a dilute region, the $Z_2$ symmetry breaks and neutrino acquires mass from the non-vanishing expectation value of the scalar field. We consider this scenario in the framework of a spherical dense object whose outside is a dilute region. In this background, we study the neutrino flavors oscillation, along with the consequences of the theory on oscillation length and MSW effect. This preliminary model may shed some lights on the existing anomalies within the neutrino data, concerning the different oscillating behavior of the neutrinos in regions with different densities.