next up previous
Next: Conclusions Up: Solar Neutrinos (Erice 1994) Previous: The Future

Implications

There are literally hundreds of models of neutrino mass [2]. However, many theories with coupling constant unification, such as grand unified theories, predict a seesaw-type mass [32,33]

 

where is the mass of a superheavy neutrino, , c, t are the up-type quarks, and is a radiative correction. The general range suggested by the solar neutrinos is consistent with the GUT-seesaw range. In particular, in the string motivated models one expects the heavy mass to be a few orders of magnitude below the unification scale [34]. As an example, for GeV one predicts

 

In this case one would expect oscillation of in the sun, and perhaps the is in the range relevant to hot dark matter. If this is the case there is a good chance that oscillations will be observed in accelerator appearance experiments now underway at CERN. Alternately, for small modifications in the seesaw one could have somewhat smaller masses that could lead to oscillations in the range relevant to the atmospheric neutrino anomaly [28].

The specific predictions are highly model dependent, and one cannot make anything more than general statements at this time. It will be important to follow up all experimental possibilities. If oscillations are responsible for the atmospheric neutrino results it should possible to prove it with long baseline oscillation experiments proposed at Fermilab and Brookhaven.

It is difficult to account for solar neutrinos, a component of hot dark matter, and atmospheric neutrinos simultaneously. There are just not enough neutrinos to go around. Attempts to account for all of these effects must invoke additional sterile neutrinos and/or nearly degenerate neutrinos, so that the mass differences can be much smaller than the average masses [59].




Mon Nov 27 19:39:39 EST 1995