Search for neutrino radiative decays during a total solar eclipse

TL;DR

This study searched for visible photons from neutrino radiative decays during the 2001 solar eclipse, setting lower lifetime limits for certain neutrino mass states, contributing to understanding neutrino properties.

Contribution

First experimental search for neutrino radiative decays during a solar eclipse, establishing new lower lifetime bounds for neutrinos with specific masses.

Findings

Lower limits for  and  neutrino lifetimes above 10^3 s/eV.

Constraints applicable to neutrino masses larger than 10^{-2} eV.

No direct detection of radiative decay photons during the eclipse.

Abstract

We present the results of the measurements performed in the occasion of the 2001 total solar eclipse, looking for visible photons emitted through a possible radiative decay of solar neutrinos. We establish lower limits for the \nu_2 and \nu_3 proper lifetimes above 10^3 s/eV, for neutrino masses larger than 10^{-2} eV.