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Neutrino Propagation in Quantum Field Theory at Short and Long Baselines

Vadim A. Naumov, Dmitry S. Shkirmanov

TL;DR

This paper adopts a covariant quantum-field-theory framework for neutrino oscillations, treating neutrinos as propagators between covariant wave-packet external states. It derives inverse-square-law violations (ISLV) in both short- and long-baseline regimes, with leading corrections modifying the conventional $1/L^2$ event-rate and depending on momentum-spread scales of the wave packets. The results suggest that ISLV could contribute to the reactor antineutrino anomaly and motivate targeted experiments with movable detectors to test the effect. Even if ISLV is not observed, the work provides a robust QFT-based description of neutrino propagation that remains viable under experimental scrutiny.

Abstract

In a quantum field approach to neutrino oscillations, the neutrino is treated as a propagator, while the external initial and final particle states are described by covariant wave packets. For the asymptotic behavior on short and long macroscopic baselines, the wave packet modified neutrino propagator is expressed through asymptotic series in powers of dimensionless Lorentz and rotation invariant variables. In both regimes, leading-order corrections violate the classical inverse-square law and lead to a decrease in the neutrino-induced event rate. The possibility that the so-called reactor antineutrino anomaly can, at least partially, be explained within this approach is discussed.

Neutrino Propagation in Quantum Field Theory at Short and Long Baselines

TL;DR

This paper adopts a covariant quantum-field-theory framework for neutrino oscillations, treating neutrinos as propagators between covariant wave-packet external states. It derives inverse-square-law violations (ISLV) in both short- and long-baseline regimes, with leading corrections modifying the conventional event-rate and depending on momentum-spread scales of the wave packets. The results suggest that ISLV could contribute to the reactor antineutrino anomaly and motivate targeted experiments with movable detectors to test the effect. Even if ISLV is not observed, the work provides a robust QFT-based description of neutrino propagation that remains viable under experimental scrutiny.

Abstract

In a quantum field approach to neutrino oscillations, the neutrino is treated as a propagator, while the external initial and final particle states are described by covariant wave packets. For the asymptotic behavior on short and long macroscopic baselines, the wave packet modified neutrino propagator is expressed through asymptotic series in powers of dimensionless Lorentz and rotation invariant variables. In both regimes, leading-order corrections violate the classical inverse-square law and lead to a decrease in the neutrino-induced event rate. The possibility that the so-called reactor antineutrino anomaly can, at least partially, be explained within this approach is discussed.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 7 sections, 15 equations, 3 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Relativistic Gaussian packet
  3. The process under study
  4. Inverse square law violation
  5. Reactor Experiments and Inverse Square Law Violation
  6. Conclusions and Discussion
  7. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Figures (3)

  • Figure 1: Macroscopic Feynman diagram representing the process under discussion. Initial and final states in source and detector vertices are wave packets. Notations are explained in the text. For details, see Ref. Naumov:2020yyv.
  • Figure 2: Graphical representation of the ISL effect (observed-to-predicted ratio vs. distance).
  • Figure 3: Ratio of observed to predicted rates for the KI $\overline\nu_e$ spectrum Kopeikin:2021ugh. Solid line represents the best-fitting theoretical model \ref{['eq:fit_prediction']}, and the band corresponds to the 68% CL. Filled points represent absolute measurements, and open ones are for the relative measurements normalized to the best-fit curve; references to experiments are given in Ref. Naumov:2021vds. The experimental errors shown do not include the overall normalization uncertainty, which is at least 2.7%.