Neutrino evolution and quantum decoherence

TL;DR

This paper explores how neutrino interactions with external environments cause quantum decoherence, affecting neutrino oscillation patterns and leading to suppression of flavor oscillations, especially in solar neutrino fluxes.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking neutrino radiative decay and nonstandard interactions to quantum decoherence effects on neutrino oscillations.

Findings

Decoherence can significantly suppress neutrino flavor oscillations.

Neutrino radiative decay influences decoherence mechanisms.

Suppression effects are notable in solar neutrino observations.

Abstract

Neutrino interactions with an external environment can in influence the neutrino oscillation pattern and the oscillations can be damped as a result of the neutrino quantum decoherence. In particular, the quantum decoherence of neutrino states engendered by the neutrino radiative decay accounting for the nonstandard interactions (NSI) leads to the suppression of flavor neutrino oscillations in the solar neutrino fluxes.