Distinguishing Dark Energy Models with Neutrino Oscillations

TL;DR

This paper explores how neutrino oscillation observations can differentiate between Dark Energy models, specifically the Cosmological Constant and scalar field models, by analyzing their effects on neutrino oscillation probabilities over redshift.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism for neutrino interaction with scalar fields in curved spacetime and demonstrates its application to distinguish Dark Energy models via neutrino oscillation data.

Findings

Neutrino oscillation probabilities vary with redshift differently for each Dark Energy model.

Future neutrino telescopes could potentially identify the nature of Dark Energy through these oscillation patterns.

The formalism provides a new observational probe for Dark Energy models.

Abstract

Dark Energy models are numerous and distinguishing between them is becoming difficult. However, using distinct observational probes can ease this quest and gives better assessment to the nature of Dark energy. To this end, the plausibility of neutrino oscillations to be a probe of Dark Energy models is investigated. First, a generalized formalism of neutrino (spinor field) interaction with a classical scalar field in curved space-time is presented. This formalism is then applied to two classes of Dark Energy models in a flat Friedman-Lema\^itre-Robertson-Walker metric: a Cosmological Constant and scalar field Dark Energy coupled to neutrinos. By looking at the neutrino oscillation probability's evolution with redshift, these models can be distinguished, for certain neutrino and scalar field coupling properties. This evolution could be traced by neutrino flux in future underground, terrestrial or extraterrestrial neutrino telescopes, which would assess probing Dark Energy models with this technique.