Decoherence in neutrino propagation through matter, and bounds from IceCube/DeepCore

We revisit neutrino oscillations in matter considering the open quantum system framework which allows to introduce possible decoherence effects generated by New Physics in a phenomenological manner. We assume that the decoherence parameters $\gamma_{ij}$ may depend on the neutrino energy, as $\gamma_{ij}=\gamma_{ij}^{0}(E/\text{GeV})^n$ $(n = 0,\pm1,\pm2)$. The case of non-uniform matter is studied in detail, both within the adiabatic approximation and in the more general non-adiabatic case. In particular, we develop a consistent formalism to study the non-adiabatic case dividing the matter profile into an arbitrary number of layers of constant densities. This formalism is then applied to explore the sensitivity of IceCube and DeepCore to this type of effects. Our study is the first atmospheric neutrino analysis where a consistent treatment of the matter effects in the three-neutrino case is performed in presence of decoherence. We show that matter effects are indeed extremely relevant in this context. We find that IceCube is able to considerably improve over current bounds in the solar sector ($\gamma_{21}$) and in the atmospheric sector ($\gamma_{31}$ and $\gamma_{32}$) for $n=0,1,2$ and, in particular, by several orders of magnitude (between 3 and 9) for the $n=1,2$ cases. For $n=0$ we find $\gamma_{32},\gamma_{31}< 4.0\cdot10^{-24} (1.3\cdot10^{-24})$ GeV and $\gamma_{21}<1.3\cdot10^{-24} (4.1\cdot10^{-24})$ GeV, for normal (inverted) mass ordering.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figure

Non-Unitarity, sterile neutrinos, and Non-Standard neutrino Interactions

The simplest Standard Model extension to explain neutrino masses involves the addition of right-handed neutrinos. At some level, this extension will impact neutrino oscillation searches. In this work we explore the differences and similarities between the case in which these neutrinos are kinematically accessible (sterile neutrinos) or not (mixing matrix non-unitarity). We clarify apparent inconsistencies in the present literature when using different parametrizations to describe these effects and recast both limits in the popular neutrino non-standard interaction (NSI) formalism. We find that, in the limit in which sterile oscillations are averaged out at the near detector, their effects at the far detector coincide with non-unitarity at leading order, even in presence of a matter potential. We also summarize the present bounds existing in both limits and compare them with the expected sensitivities of near future facilities taking the DUNE proposal as a benchmark. We conclude that non-unitarity effects are too constrained to impact present or near future neutrino oscillation facilities but that sterile neutrinos can play an important role at long baseline experiments. The role of the near detector is also discussed in detail.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures: minor changes and references added, version published in JHE

N_eff in low-scale seesaw models versus the lightest neutrino mass

We evaluate the contribution to N_eff of the extra sterile states in low-scale type I seesaw models (with three extra sterile states). We explore the full parameter space and find that at least two of the heavy states always reach thermalization in the early Universe, while the third one might not thermalize provided the lightest neutrino mass is below O(10(-3) eV). Constraints from cosmology therefore severely restrict the spectra of heavy states in the range 1 eV-100 MeV. The implications for neutrinoless double beta decay are also discussed

Low-scale seesaw models versus N-eff

We consider the contribution of the extra sterile states in generic low-scale seesaw models to extra radiation, parametrized by N-eff. We find that the value of Neff is roughly independent of the seesaw scale within a wide range. We explore the full parameter space in the case of two extra sterile states and find that these models are strongly constrained by cosmological data for any value of the seesaw scale below O(100 MeV)

Condicionantes técnicas para el diseño de la barrera de vapor en el NEA

Por medio de los ejemplos se puede observar que “los procedimientos de intercambio de calor y humedad en los elementos constructivos exteriores son regulables con la elección y ordenación de los materiales aislantes al calor e impermeables al vapor. Solo el conocimiento de estos proceso físicos permite diseñar detalles constructivos que garanticen una eficacia constante”. En la región NEA, si bien existen riesgos de condensación del vapor de agua en los cerramientos, no existe desde el punto de vista climático exterior grandes peligros de que se presenten de manera virulenta ó crónica debido a el invierno no es la estación crítica. Sin embargo el alto índice de ocupación de los espacios, la resolución inadecuada del aislamiento de los cerramientos de las viviendas de interés social, la mala ventilación de los espacios en general y de los locales húmedos en particular, sumado al desconocimiento de los habitantes en cuanto al uso de los medios de calefacción, generan ciertos riesgos de que se presenten patologías en la construcción debido a este fenómeno. Pero no es necesario llegar al extremo de la implementación de la barrera de vapor para una vivencia normal de los espacios (exceptuando cámaras frigoríficas o locales permanentemente refrigerados) siendo más importante el mejoramiento térmico a través de el uso de Aislaciones, que por un lado mejorará el nivel de confort (habitabilidad) de los espacios interiores, y por otro eliminará, en caso de que se llegue a una resistencia térmica suficiente, el riesgo de condensaciones. Es muy importante también el buen manejo de los materiales de terminación interior, los cuales en los locales húmedos, donde no pueden evitarse condensaciones superficiales transitorias, no deben ser atacables por la humedad. El otro punto a tener en cuenta es la correcta ventilación de la vivienda, la cual debería ser potenciada con un diseño arquitectónico acorde a las necesidades humanas y no según objetivos meramente económicos de reducción de costos, lo que redundará, además de la eliminación del exceso de vapor de agua, en un mejor funcionamiento en el verano.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Leptogenesis in GeV-scale seesaw models

We revisit the production of leptonic asymmetries in minimal extensions of the Standard Model that can explain neutrino masses, involving extra singlets with Majorana masses in the GeV scale. We study the quantum kinetic equations both analytically, via a perturbative expansion up to third order in the mixing angles, and numerically. The analytical solution allows us to identify the relevant CP invariants, and simplifies the exploration of the parameter space. We find that sizeable lepton asymmetries are compatible with non-degenerate neutrino masses and measurable active-sterile mixings

Diseño y desarrollo de una aplicación informática para el estudio del comportamiento higrotérmico de techos

El presente trabajo se basa en el desarrollo de un software de cálculo para el Comportamiento Higrotérmico de techos, para las condiciones climáticas del nordeste Argentino. Mediante este programa, se pueden realizar los cálculos de las condensaciones superficiales, intersticiales y de transmitancia térmica de techos, previendo un usuario inexperto tanto en el conocimiento de la normativa, como en el manejo de herramientas informáticas. El programa se encuentra actualizado a la nueva normativa de habitabilidad, incluyendo el cálculo de las condensaciones en los puntos singulares de los cerramientos. Ha sido escrito en lenguaje Visual Basic y pretende ser una herramienta tanto para el cálculo del comportamiento higrotérmico de los techos, como para la difusión de esta problemática en el ambiente profesional de la Región, ya que cuenta con recomendaciones técnicas, interpretaciones de los resultados obtenidos y explicaciones conceptuales tendientes a la difusión de la problemática higrotérmica.The present work is based on the development of a calculation software for the higrothermic behaviours of the roofs for the weather conditions of NEA. With this software is possible to make the higrotermic verifications of roofs., preventing an inexpert user in the knowledges of norms and in the manageing of the informatic tools. The program is actualizated to the new habitability norms, also the condensations calculations of the roofs’ singular points. Has been written in Visual Basic and pretends to be a tool for the calculation of the roofs’ higrothermics behaviours, and to the diffusion of this problematic in the profesional atmosphere of the region; due to the fact that it counts with tecnic recommendationss, explanations of the obteined results and conceptual explanations of the higrothermics problematics.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Gamma oscillations in the temporal pole reflect the contribution of approach and avoidance motivational systems to the processing of fear and anger words

Prior reports suggest that affective effects in visual word processing cannot be fully explained by a dimensional perspective of emotions based on valence and arousal. In the current study, we focused on the contribution of approach and avoidance motivational systems that are related to different action components to the processing of emotional words. To this aim, we compared frontal alpha asymmetries and brain oscillations elicited by anger words associated with approach (fighting) motivational tendencies, and fear words that may trigger either avoidance (escaping), approach (fighting) or no (freezing) action tendencies. The participants’ task was to make decisions about approaching or distancing from the concepts represented by words. The results of cluster-based and beamforming analyses revealed increased gamma power band synchronization for fear words relative to anger words between 725 and 750 ms, with an estimated neural origin in the temporal pole. These findings were interpreted to reflect a conflict between different action tendencies underlying the representation of fear words in semantic and emotional memories, when trying to achieve task requirements. These results are in line with the predictions made by the fear-hinders-action hypothesis. Additionally, current data highlights the contribution of motivational features to the representation and processing of emotional wordsThis study was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades of Spain (Grants PGC2018- 098558-B-I00, PID2019-107206GB-I00, and RED2018-102615- T), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain (Grant PSI2017-84922-R), Comunidad de Madrid (Grants H2019/HUM-5705 and SI1/PJI/2019-00061), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Grant 2019PFR-URV-B2-32). DH-P was funded by a predoctoral FPU20/03345 gran