Collective neutrino oscillations accounting for neutrino quantum decoherence

TL;DR

This paper investigates how neutrino quantum decoherence, modeled by Lindblad master equations, affects collective neutrino oscillations without focusing on specific decoherence mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces a general framework using Lindblad equations to study neutrino decoherence effects on oscillations, independent of particular decoherence sources.

Findings

Decoherence influences collective neutrino oscillation behavior.

The framework accommodates various decoherence mechanisms.

Results provide a basis for understanding neutrino decoherence impacts.

Abstract

In our previous studies (see [1] and references therein) we developed a new theoretical framework that enabled one to consider a new mechanism of neutrino quantum decoherence engendered by the neutrino radiative decay. In parallel, another framework was developed (see [2] and references therein) for the description of the neutrino quantum decoherence due to the non-forward neutrino scattering processes. Both mechanisms are described by the master equations in the Lindblad form. We study the influence of the neutrino quantum decoherence on collective neutrino oscillations. In the present studies we are are not interested in a specific mechanism of neutrino quantum decoherence. Therefore, we use the general Lindblad master equation for the description of the neutrino quantum decoherence and do not fix an analytical expressions for the decoherence and relaxation parameters.