On the length scale of collective neutrino oscillations

TL;DR

This paper clarifies that the length scale of collective neutrino oscillations is not directly related to the self-interaction potential, debunking a common misconception and correcting assumptions about numerical simulation resolution requirements.

Contribution

It challenges the myth that the oscillation length scale depends on the self-interaction potential, providing a clearer understanding of the physical and numerical aspects of neutrino oscillations.

Findings

The oscillation length scale is not determined by the inverse of the self-interaction potential.

Numerical convergence does not require spatial resolution equal to the inverse of the potential.

Debunks a widespread misconception in the neutrino physics community.

Abstract

In this paper, I present a discussion on the length scale of collective neutrino oscillations. There is a popular myth in the field that the length scale of collective neutrino oscillation is related to the strength of self-interaction potential; this is a result of confusion between the length scale and time scale. As a consequence of this myth, it is believed that the convergence of numerical simulation of quantum kinetic equations requires a spatial resolution (radial bin size) that is equal to the inverse of the self-interaction potential. I try to debunk this myth in this paper.