Out of this world neutrino oscillations

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonlinear modifications to quantum field theory, inspired by the many-worlds interpretation, can subtly alter neutrino oscillation patterns without changing their fundamental frequencies.

Contribution

It introduces a model where a Higgs-neutrino Yukawa interaction causes nonlinear interference, providing a framework to test nonlinear quantum effects in neutrino physics.

Findings

Tiny changes in neutrino oscillation patterns predicted

Nonlinear effects are suppressed at large baselines

Model links nonlinear quantum mechanics to many-worlds interpretation

Abstract

We study how vacuum neutrino oscillations can be affected by a causal, nonlinear and state-dependent modification of quantum field theory that may be interpreted using the many-worlds formulation of quantum mechanics. The effect is induced by a Higgs-neutrino Yukawa interaction that causes a nonlinear interference between the neutrino mass eigenstates. This leads to a tiny change in the oscillation pattern of light, active neutrinos without altering the oscillation frequencies. At large baselines where the oscillations disappear, the nonlinear effect is also suppressed and does not source correlations between the mass eigenstates once they are entangled with the environment. Our example provides a way to compute effects of nonlinear quantum mechanics and field theory that may probe the possible physical reality of many worlds.