Neutrino decoherence from quantum gravitational stochastic perturbations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum gravitational fluctuations, modeled as stochastic perturbations, cause decoherence in neutrino oscillations, and explores the potential to detect such effects in current neutrino experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for modeling neutrino decoherence due to quantum gravity effects using open quantum systems, linking theoretical predictions to experimental constraints.

Findings

Decoherence effects can be represented within open quantum system formalism.

Current neutrino experiments can potentially detect Planck scale physics effects.

Sensitivity to quantum gravitational effects below natural expectations is achievable.

Abstract

Neutrinos undergoing stochastic perturbations as they propagate experience decoherence, damping neutrino oscillations over distance. Such perturbations may result from fluctuations in space-time itself if gravity is a quantum force, including interactions between neutrinos and virtual black holes. In this work we model the influence of heuristic neutrino-virtual black hole interaction scenarios on neutrino propagation and evaluate the resulting signals in astrophysical and atmospheric neutrinos. We demonstrate how these effects can be represented in the framework of open quantum systems, allowing experimental constraints on such systems to be connected to quantum gravitational effects. Finally, we consider the energy-dependence of such Planck scale physics at energies observed in current neutrino experiments, and show that sensitivity to Planck scale physics well below the `natural' expectation is achievable in certain scenarios.