Non-adiabatic level crossing in (non-) resonant neutrino oscillations

We study neutrino oscillations and the level-crossing probability P_{LZ}=\exp(-\gamma_n\F_n\pi/2) in power-law like potential profiles $A(r)\propto r^n$. After showing that the resonance point coincides only for a linear profile with the point of maximal violation of adiabaticity, we point out that the ``adiabaticity'' parameter $\gamma_n$ can be calculated at an arbitrary point if the correction function \F_n is rescaled appropriately. We present a new representation for the level-crossing probability, P_{LZ}=\exp(-\kappa_n\G_n), which allows a simple numerical evaluation of $P_{LZ}$ in both the resonant and non-resonant cases and where \G_n contains the full dependence of $P_{LZ}$ on the mixing angle $\theta$. As an application we consider the case $n=-3$ important for oscillations of supernova neutrinos.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, 3 eps figure

Flavour structure of low-energy hadron pair photoproduction

We consider the process $\gamma\gamma\to H_1\bar H_2$ where $H_1$ and $H_2$ are either mesons or baryons. The experimental findings for such quantities as the $p\bar p$ and $K_SK_S$ differential cross sections, in the energy range currently probed, are found often to be in disparity with the scaling behaviour expected from hard constituent scattering. We discuss the long-distance pole--resonance contribution in understanding the origin of these phenomena, as well as the amplitude relations governing the short-distance contribution which we model as a scaling contribution. When considering the latter, we argue that the difference found for the $K_SK_S$ and the $K^+K^-$ integrated cross sections can be attributed to the s-channel isovector component. This corresponds to the $\rho\omega\to a$ subprocess in the VMD (vector-meson-dominance) language. The ratio of the two cross sections is enhanced by the suppression of the $\phi$ component, and is hence constrained. We give similar constraints to a number of other hadron pair production channels. After writing down the scaling and pole--resonance contributions accordingly, the direct summation of the two contributions is found to reproduce some salient features of the $p\bar p$ and $K^+K^-$ data.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, revised version to be published in EPJ

SN1987A and the Status of Oscillation Solutions to the Solar Neutrino Problem (including an appendix discussing the NC and day/night data from SNO)

We study neutrino oscillations and the level-crossing probability PLZ in power-law potential profiles A(r)\propto r^n. We give local and global adiabaticity conditions valid for all mixing angles theta and discuss different representations for PLZ. For the 1/r^3 profile typical of supernova envelopes we compare our analytical to numerical results and to earlier approximations used in the literature. We then perform a combined likelihood analysis of the observed SN1987A neutrino signal and of the latest solar neutrino data, including the recent SNO CC measurement. We find that, unless all relevant supernova parameters (released binding energy, \bar\nu_e and \bar\nu_{\mu,\tau} temperatures) are near their lowest values found in simulations, the status of large mixing type solutions deteriorates considerably compared to fits using only solar data. This is sufficient to rule out the vacuum-type solutions for most reasonable choices of astrophysics parameters. The LOW solution may still be acceptable, but becomes worse than the SMA-MSW solution which may, in some cases, be the best combined solution. On the other hand the LMA-MSW solution can easily survive as the best overall solution, although its size is generally reduced when compared to fits to the solar data only.Comment: 31 pages, 32 eps figures; 5 pages, 5 eps figures addendum in v2, discussing the recent SNO NC data and changes in SN paramete

A guanosine 5′-triphosphate-dependent protein kinase is localized in the outer envelope membrane of pea chloroplasts

A guanosine 5-triphosphate (GTP)-dependent protein kinase was detected in preparations of outer chloroplast envelope membranes of pea (Pisum sativum L.) chloroplasts. The protein-kinase activity was capable of phosphorylating several envelope-membrane proteins. The major phosphorylated products were 23- and 32.5-kilo-dalton proteins of the outer envelope membrane. Several other envelope proteins were labeled to a lesser extent. Following acid hydrolysis of the labeled proteins, most of the label was detected as phosphoserine with only minor amounts detected as phosphothreonine. Several criteria were used to distinguish the GTP-dependent protein kinase from an ATP-dependent kinase also present in the outer envelope membrane. The ATP-dependent kinase phosphorylated a very different set of envelope-membrane proteins. Heparin inhibited the GTP-dependent kinase but had little effect upon the ATP-dependent enzyme. The GTP-dependent enzyme accepted phosvitin as an external protein substrate whereas the ATP-dependent enzyme did not. The outer membrane of the chloroplast envelope also contained a phosphotransferase capable of transferring labeled phosphate from [-32P]GTP to ADP to yield (-32P]ATP. Consequently, addition of ADP to a GTP-dependent protein-kinase assay resulted in a switch in the pattern of labeled products from that seen with GTP to that typically seen with ATP

Almost Maximal Lepton Mixing with Large T Violation in Neutrino Oscillations and Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

We point out two simple but instructive possibilities to construct the charged lepton and neutrino mass matrices, from which the nearly bi-maximal neutrino mixing with large T violation can naturally emerge. The two lepton mixing scenarios are compatible very well with current experimental data on solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations, and one of them may lead to an observable T-violating asymmetry between \nu_\mu --> \nu_e and \nu_e --> \nu_\mu transitions in the long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. Their implications on the neutrinoless double beta decay are also discussed.Comment: RevTex 15 pages (2 PS figures

B→η(η′)K(π)B \to \eta(\eta') K(\pi) in the Standard Model with Flavor Symmetry

The observed branching ratios for $B\to K \eta'$ decays are much larger than factorization predictions in the Standard Model (SM). Many proposals have been made to reconcile the data and theoretical predictions. In this paper we study these decays within the SM using flavor U(3) symmetry. If small annihilation amplitudes are neglected, one needs 11 hadronic parameters to describe $B\to PP$ decays where $P$ can be one of the $\pi$, $K$, $\eta$ and $\eta'$ nonet mesons. We find that existing data are consistent with SM with flavor U(3) symmetry. We also predict several measurable branching ratios and CP asymmetries for $B \to K (\pi) \eta(\eta')$, $\eta(\eta')\eta(\eta')$ decays. Near future experiments can provide important tests for the Standard Model with flavor U(3) symmetry.Comment: 13 pages, 4 table

Exact Formulas and Simple CP dependence of Neutrino Oscillation Probabilities in Matter with Constant Density

We investigate neutrino oscillations in constant matter within the context of the standard three neutrino scenario. We derive an exact and simple formula for the oscillation probability applicable to all channels. In the standard parametrization, the probability for $\nu_e$ $\to$ $\nu_{\mu}$ transition can be written in the form $P(\nu_e \to \nu_{\mu})=A_{e\mu}\cos\delta+B_{e\mu}\sin\delta+C_{e\mu}$ without any approximation using CP phase $\delta$. For $\nu_{\mu}$ $\to$ $\nu_{\tau}$ transition, the linear term of $\cos 2\delta$ is added and the probability can be written in the form $P(\nu_{\mu} \to \nu_{\tau})=A_{\mu\tau}\cos\delta+B_{\mu\tau} \sin\delta+C_{\mu\tau}+D_{\mu\tau}\cos 2\delta$. We give the CP dependences of the probability for other channels. We show that the probability for each channel in matter has the same form with respect to $\delta$ as in vacuum. It means that matter effects just modify the coefficients $A$, $B$, $C$ and $D$. We also give the exact expression of the coefficients for each channel. Furthermore, we show that our results with respect to CP dependences are reproduced from the effective mixing angles and the effective CP phase calculated by Zaglauer and Schwarzer. Through the calculation, a new identity is obtained by dividing the Naumov-Harrison-Scott identity by the Toshev identity.Comment: 12 pages, RevTeX4 style, changed title, minor correction

Status of a Supersymmetric Flavour Violating Solution to the Solar Neutrino Puzzle with Three Generations

We present a general study of a three neutrino flavour transition model based on the supersymmetric interactions which violate R-parity. These interactions induce flavour violating scattering reactions between solar matter and neutrinos. The model does not contain any vacuum mass or mixing angle for the first generation neutrino. Instead, the effective mixing in the first generation is induced via the new interactions. The model provides a natural interpretation of the atmospheric neutrino anomaly, and is consistent with reactor experiments. We determine all R-parity violating couplings which can contribute to the effective neutrino oscillations, and summarize the present laboratory bounds. Independent of the specific nature of the (supersymmetric) flavour violating model, the experimental data on the solar neutrino rates and the recoil electron energy spectrum are inconsistent with the theoretical predictions. The confidence level of the $\chi^2$-analysis ranges between $\sim 10^{-4}$ and $\sim 10^{-3}$. The incompatibility, is due to the new SNO results, and excludes the present model. We conclude that a non-vanishing vacuum mixing angle for the first generation neutrino is necessary in our model. We expect this also to apply to the solutions based on other flavour violating interactions having constraints of the same order of magnitude.Comment: 17 pages, Latex fil

SPIDER: Probing the Early Universe with a Suborbital Polarimeter

We evaluate the ability of SPIDER, a balloon-borne polarimeter, to detect a divergence-free polarization pattern ("B-modes") in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). In the inflationary scenario, the amplitude of this signal is proportional to that of the primordial scalar perturbations through the tensor-to-scalar ratio r. We show that the expected level of systematic error in the SPIDER instrument is significantly below the amplitude of an interesting cosmological signal with r=0.03. We present a scanning strategy that enables us to minimize uncertainty in the reconstruction of the Stokes parameters used to characterize the CMB, while accessing a relatively wide range of angular scales. Evaluating the amplitude of the polarized Galactic emission in the SPIDER field, we conclude that the polarized emission from interstellar dust is as bright or brighter than the cosmological signal at all SPIDER frequencies (90 GHz, 150 GHz, and 280 GHz), a situation similar to that found in the "Southern Hole." We show that two ~20-day flights of the SPIDER instrument can constrain the amplitude of the B-mode signal to r<0.03 (99% CL) even when foreground contamination is taken into account. In the absence of foregrounds, the same limit can be reached after one 20-day flight.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables; v2: matches published version, flight schedule updated, two typos fixed in Table 2, references and minor clarifications added, results unchange