6533b828fe1ef96bd1287a97
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Confusing nonzero theta(13) with nonstandard interactions in the solar neutrino sector
Jose W.f. ValleAntonio Palazzosubject
QuarkPhysicsNuclear and High Energy PhysicsParticle physicsScatteringSolar neutrinoFOS: Physical sciencesFísicaWeinberg angleHigh Energy Physics - ExperimentHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyHigh Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar AstrophysicsMixing (mathematics)Potential sourceHigh Energy Physics::ExperimentNuclear Experiment (nucl-ex)Neutrino oscillationDegeneracy (mathematics)Nuclear ExperimentSolar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)description
Solar and KamLAND data are in slight tension when interpreted in the standard two-flavor oscillations framework and this may be alleviated allowing for a non-zero value of the mixing angle theta_13. Here we show that, likewise, non-standard flavor-changing interactions (FCI), possibly intervening in the propagation of solar neutrinos, are equally able to alleviate this tension and therefore constitute a potential source of confusion in the determination of theta_13. By performing a full three-flavor analysis of solar and KamLAND data in presence of FCI we provide a quantitative description of the degeneracy existing between theta_13 and the vectorial coupling eps_e\tau^dV characterizing the non-standard transitions between nu_e and nu_tau in the forward scattering process with d-type quarks. We find that couplings with magnitude eps_e\tau^dV ~ 10%, compatible with the existing bounds, can mimic the non-zero values of theta_13 indicated by the latest analyses.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-09-08 |