Endpoint Structure in Beta Decay from Coherent Weak-Interaction of the Neutrino

TL;DR

This paper proposes that a repulsive potential from coherent weak-interaction between emitted antineutrinos and the daughter atom can explain anomalies in beta decay spectra, potentially resolving negative neutrino mass squared results.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explanation involving coherent weak-interaction effects to account for spectral anomalies in beta decay experiments.

Findings

Repulsive potential can produce bump-like excesses in electron spectra.

The model explains negative neutrino mass squared results.

Coherent weak-interaction effects are significant in beta decay analysis.

Abstract

Recent tritium beta decay experiments yield unphysical negative best-fit values for the square of the neutrino mass. An unidentified bump-like excess of counts few eV below the endpoint in the electron energy spectrum has been tentatively recognized as the source of this anomaly. It is shown that the repulsive potential acting on the emitted antineutrino and originating in its coherent weak-interaction with the daughter atom may effectively account for this excess.