Neutrino Decay and Some Consequences of a Non-Zero Daughter Neutrino Mass

Weill, Jean

doi:https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-a86d-xf59

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Neutrino Decay and Some Consequences of a Non-Zero Daughter Neutrino Mass

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This thesis explores how beyond-the-Standard-Model physics interactions could lead to the detection of neutrino decay with lifetimes that are orders of magnitude smaller than a second. I mainly focused on right-handed neutrino fields, new heavy states, and non-zero daughter neutrino masses, assuming the neutrinos are Dirac fermions. An extensive description of both the two and three body decay is used to examine different hypotheses for the interaction that mediates neutrino decay and concentrate on identifying circumstances where the decay-daughters can significantly impact the neutrino-decay signature at different experiments like JUNO, SNO, Super-Kamiokande, and Borexino. These models are then used to compare the effects of visible and invisible decays with respect to a no-decay hypothesis for both reactor anti-neutrinos and solar neutrinos. Finally, I introduce an ongoing project aiming at understanding how CP violation impacts the isotropic angular distribution of a Majorana neutrino and a massless scalar boson produced in the decay at rest of a heavy polarized Majorana neutrino. I also consider the possibility of a BSM radiative decay from a heavy polarized Majorana which might result in the photon inheriting some nontrivial polarization.

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