Regresar

Neutrino velocity and neutrino oscillations

Abstract:

We study distances of propagation and the group velocities of muon neutrinos in the presence of mixing and oscillations assuming that Lorentz invariance holds. Oscillations lead to distortion of the ν μ wave packet, which, in turn, changes the group velocity and the distance ν μ travels. We find that the change of the distance, d osc, is proportional to the length of the wave packet, σ x, and the oscillation phase, p, acquired by neutrinos in the π- and K- meson decay tunnel where the neutrino wave packet is formed: d oscσ p. Although the distance d osc may effectively correspond to the superluminal motion, the effect is too tiny (∼10 -5cm) to be reconciled with the OPERA result. We analyze various possibilities to increase d osc and discuss experimental setups in which d osc (corresponding to the superluminal motion) can reach an observable value ∼1m. © 2012 American Physical Society.