Aproximative solutions to the neutrino oscillation problem in matter

We present approximative solutions to the neutrino evolution equation calculated by different methods. In a two neutrino framework, using the physical parameters which gives the main effects to neutrino oscillations from nu{e} to another flavors for L=3000Km and E=1GeV, the results for the transition probability calculated by using series solutions, by to take the neutrino evolution operator as a product of ordered partial operators and by numerical methods, for a linearly and sinusoidally varying matter density are compared. The extension to an arbitrary density profile is discussed and the evolution operator as a product of partial operators in the three neutrino case is obtained.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Simulations of a mortality plateau in the sexual Penna model for biological ageing

The Penna model is a strategy to simulate the genetic dynamics of age-structured populations, in which the individuals genomes are represented by bit-strings. It provides a simple metaphor for the evolutionary process in terms of the mutation accumulation theory. In its original version, an individual dies due to inherited diseases when its current number of accumulated mutations, n, reaches a threshold value, T. Since the number of accumulated diseases increases with age, the probability to die is zero for very young ages (n = T). Here, instead of using a step function to determine the genetic death age, we test several other functions that may or may not slightly increase the death probability at young ages (n < T), but that decreases this probability at old ones. Our purpose is to study the oldest old effect, that is, a plateau in the mortality curves at advanced ages. Imposing certain conditions, it has been possible to obtain a clear plateau using the Penna model. However, a more realistic one appears when a modified version, that keeps the population size fixed without fluctuations, is used. We also find a relation between the birth rate, the age-structure of the population and the death probability.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.