Electron neutrino opacity in magnetised media

We study the effects of strong magnetic fields ($B> 10^{13}$~G) in the cross section for $\nu_e n\to p e$ scattering in the presence of a degenerate electron background. This can be relevant for the $\nu_e$ propagation in the proto-neutron star stage after supernovae collapse. We find that for field strengths $B> 10^{16}$~G$(E_\nu/10$ MeV$)^2$ the $\nu_e$ opacity is sizeably affected by the magnetic field and can lead to a shift in the location of the electron neutrino sphere towards lower densities. We discuss the implications that this may have for scenarios proposed to explain the observed pulsar velocities

E sub 6 leptoquarks and the solar neutrino problem

The possibility that non-conventional neutrino oscillations take place in the superstring inspired E sub 6 models is considered. In this context, the influence of leptoquark mediated interactions of the neutrinos with nucleons in the resonant flavor conversion is discussed. It is shown that this effect can be significant for v sub e - v sub tau oscillations if these neutrinos have masses required in the ordinary Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) effect, and may lead to a solution of the solar neutrino problem even in the absence of vacuum mixings. On the other hand, this model cannot lead to a resonant behavior in the sun if the neutrinos are massless

Results from the Pierre Auger Observatory

I describe some of the results on ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays that have been obtained with the Pierre Auger Observatory. These include measurements of the spectrum, composition and anisotropies. Possible astrophysical scenarios that account for these results are discussed.Comment: Proceedings of the 7th Roma International Conference on Astroparticle Physic

Microlensing searches of dark matter

The evolution of the observational results of microlensing towards the LMC and some of the suggested interpretations to account for them are discussed. It is emphasized that the results at present are indicative of a lensing population of white dwarfs, possibly in the spheroid (not dark halo) of the Galaxy, together with the more standard backgrounds of stellar populations in the Magellanic Clouds and in the Galaxy. This is also hinted by dynamical estimates of the spheroid mass and by recent direct searches of old white dwarfs.Comment: 9 pp., Lecture given at Silafae III Conference (april 2000

Neutrino Masses

This is a review for Reports of Progress in Physics. After an introduction we start by explaining the different neutrino masses corresponding to different types of neutrinos, Dirac or Majorana, in section 2. In section 3 we discuss the main elementary particle models for neutrino masses and their distinctive phenomenological consequences. In section 4 we describe the status of direct mass searches and Majorana mass searches in neutrinoless double beta decays. In section 5 we go over the many cosmological implications of, and constraints on, neutrino properties, mainly masses and lifetimes. Sections 6, 7 and 8 review neutrino oscillations, the solar neutrino problem and the atmospheric neutrino problem, their implications and the current and future experiments. In particular, we explain oscillations in vacuum in section 6 and oscillations in matter in section 7. Section 9 summarizes the main bounds imposed by stars, mainly SN1987A. A few concluding remarks follow.Comment: 85 pp.,Tex file requires ioppreprint.sty and verbatim.tex, 12 figures sent separately in a uu-compressed fil

On the propagation of the highest energy cosmic ray nuclei

We study the propagation of ultra-high energy cosmic ray nuclei through the background of cosmic microwave and intergalactic infrared photons, using recent re-estimates for the density of the last ones. We perform a detailed Monte Carlo simulation to follow the disintegration histories of nuclei starting as Fe and reaching the Earth from extragalactic sources. We obtain the maximum energies of the arriving nuclear fragments as well as the mass composition as a function of the distance traveled. Cosmic rays with energies in excess of $2\times 10^{20}$ eV cannot originate from Fe nuclei produced in sources beyond 10 Mpc.Comment: 8 page

Axino-induced baryogenesis

We consider the possibility that the baryon asymmetry is generated at low energies as a consequence of the axino decay. We analyze models in which the axino, the superpartner of the axion, is heavy and decays into gluinos at temperatures T approx. = 1 GeV. If CP and B violating couplings for the quark superfields are included, the subsequent decay of these out of equilibrium gluinos can act as seeds for baryogenesis. The required amount of CP violation is well consistent with the bounds on the electric dipole moment of the neutron and the mechanism works even for low reheating temperatures after inflation (T sub RH greater or approx. = 10 exp 4 GeV)

Angular distribution of cosmic rays from an individual source in a turbulent magnetic field

We obtain the angular distribution of the cosmic rays reaching an observer from an individual source and after propagation through a turbulent magnetic field, for different ratios between the source distance and the diffusion length. We study both the high-energy quasi-rectilinear regime as well as the transition towards the diffusive regime at lower energies where the deflections become large. We consider the impact of energy losses, showing that they tend to enhance the anisotropy of the source at a given energy. We also discuss lensing effects, in particular those that could result from the regular galactic magnetic field component, and show that the effect of the turbulent extragalactic magnetic fields can smooth out the divergent magnification peaks that would result for point-like sources in the limit of no turbulent deflections.Comment: matches published versio