The 17 keV neutrino in the light of astrophysics and cosmology

Details The 17 keV neutrino in the light of astrophysics and cosmology The 17 keV neutrino in the light of astrophysics and cosmology

Aug 1991

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991phlb..265..251a&link_type=abstract

Physics Letters B, Volume 265, Issue 3-4, p. 251-257.

Physics

7

Scientific paper

The possible discovery of a 17 keV neutrino in β-decay experiments is a challenge to both astrophysics and cosmology. Should such a species exist, its contribution to the present mass density would play havoc among the heavens unless that neutrino decays with a life-time shorter than 30 000 yr. If so, its radiative decays should neither overcool red giant stars, nor exceed the upper bound set upon the γ-ray flux from supernova 1987A by the Solar Maximum Mission satellite. In addition, radiative decays should not distort the microwave background radiation, whose spectrum is quasi-planckian as observed by COBE. Combining those various arguments, we conclude that the branching ratio Bγ to photons cannot exceed 4×10-5. Such a limit severely constraints the most naive models of the 17 keV neutrino, and points towards unconventional physics.
On leave of absence from LAPP, B.P. 110, F-74941 Annecyle-Vieux Cedex, France and from Université de Chambéry, F-73000 Chambéry, France.

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