Probing Lorentz violation in neutrino propagation from a core-collapse supernova

TY - JOUR

T1 - Probing Lorentz violation in neutrino propagation from a core-collapse supernova

AU - Ellis, John

AU - Janka, Hans-Thomas

AU - Mavromatos, Nikolaos E.

AU - Sakharov, Alexander S.

AU - Sarkisyan, Edward K. G.

PY - 2012/2/23

Y1 - 2012/2/23

N2 - Supernova explosions provide the most sensitive probes of neutrino propagation, such as the possibility that neutrino velocities might be affected by the foamy structure of space-time thought to be generated by quantum-gravitational effects. Recent two-dimensional simulations of the neutrino emissions from core-collapse supernovae suggest that they might exhibit variations in time on the scale of a few milliseconds. We analyze simulations of such neutrino emissions using a wavelet technique, and consider the limits that might be set on a linear or quadratic violation of Lorentz invariance in the group velocities of neutrinos of different energies, v/c = [1 +/- (E/M-nu LV1)] or [1 +/- (E/M-nu LV2)(2)], if variations on such short time scales were to be observed, where the mass scales M-nu LVi might appear in models of quantum gravity. We find prospective sensitivities to M-nu LV1 similar to 2 x 10(13) GeV and M-nu LV2 similar to 10(6) GeV at the 95% confidence level, up to 2 orders of magnitude beyond estimates made using previous one-dimensional simulations of core-collapse supernovae. We also analyze the prospective sensitivities to scenarios in which the propagation times of neutrinos of fixed energies are subject to stochastic fluctuations.

AB - Supernova explosions provide the most sensitive probes of neutrino propagation, such as the possibility that neutrino velocities might be affected by the foamy structure of space-time thought to be generated by quantum-gravitational effects. Recent two-dimensional simulations of the neutrino emissions from core-collapse supernovae suggest that they might exhibit variations in time on the scale of a few milliseconds. We analyze simulations of such neutrino emissions using a wavelet technique, and consider the limits that might be set on a linear or quadratic violation of Lorentz invariance in the group velocities of neutrinos of different energies, v/c = [1 +/- (E/M-nu LV1)] or [1 +/- (E/M-nu LV2)(2)], if variations on such short time scales were to be observed, where the mass scales M-nu LVi might appear in models of quantum gravity. We find prospective sensitivities to M-nu LV1 similar to 2 x 10(13) GeV and M-nu LV2 similar to 10(6) GeV at the 95% confidence level, up to 2 orders of magnitude beyond estimates made using previous one-dimensional simulations of core-collapse supernovae. We also analyze the prospective sensitivities to scenarios in which the propagation times of neutrinos of fixed energies are subject to stochastic fluctuations.

M3 - Article

SN - 1550-7998

VL - 85

JO - Physical Review D (Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology)

JF - Physical Review D (Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology)

IS - 4

M1 - 045032

ER -