Non-conservation of Lepton Numbers in the Neutrino Sector Could Change the Prospects for Core Collapse Supernova Explosions

TL;DR

Lepton-number-violating neutrino interactions could significantly impact supernova core collapse dynamics, potentially altering explosion outcomes and neutrino signals, and can be tested by future experiments.

Contribution

This paper explores how lepton-number violation in neutrinos can change supernova core evolution and proposes experimental tests for such interactions.

Findings

Lepton-number violation can lower electron fraction in collapsing cores.

Enhanced neutrino-antineutrino equilibration affects supernova dynamics.

Future experiments can probe relevant neutrino self-interaction parameters.

Abstract

We show that interactions violating the conservation of lepton numbers in the neutrino sector could significantly alter the standard low entropy picture for the pre-supernova collapsing core of a massive star. A rapid neutrino-antineutrino equilibration leads to entropy generation and enhanced electron capture and, hence, a lower electron fraction than in the standard model. This would affect the downstream core evolution, the prospects for a supernova explosion, and the emergent neutrino signal. If realized by lepton-number-violating neutrino self-interactions (LNV $\nu$SI), the relevant mediator mass and coupling ranges can be probed by future accelerator-based experiments.