Exploring the neutrino mass hierarchy probability with meteoritic supernova material [nu]-process nucleosynthesis, and [straighttheta] sub(13) mixing

There is recent evidence that some SiC X grains from the Murchison meteorite may contain supernova-produced [nu]-process super(11)B and or super(7)Li encapsulated in the grains. The synthesis of super(11)B and super(7)Li via neutrino-induced nucleon emission (the [nu] process) in supernovas is sensi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. D, Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology, 2012-05, Vol.85 (10)
Main Authors: Mathews, G J, Kajino, T, Aoki, W, Fujiya, W, Pitts, J B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Enrichment
Grains
Gravitation
Hierarchies
Lithium
Neutrinos
Silicon carbide
Supernovas
Uncertainty
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Summary:There is recent evidence that some SiC X grains from the Murchison meteorite may contain supernova-produced [nu]-process super(11)B and or super(7)Li encapsulated in the grains. The synthesis of super(11)B and super(7)Li via neutrino-induced nucleon emission (the [nu] process) in supernovas is sensitive to the neutrino mass hierarchy for finite sin super(2)2[straighttheta] sub(13) > 0.001. This sensitivity arises because, when there is 13 mixing, the average electron neutrino energy for charged-current neutrino reactions is larger for a normal mass hierarchy than for an inverted hierarchy. Recent constraints on [straighttheta] sub(13) from the Daya Bay, Double Chooz, MINOS, RENO, and T2K collaborations all suggest that indeed sin super(2)2[straighttheta] sub(13) > 0.001. We examine the possible implications of these new results based upon a Bayesian analysis of the uncertainties in the measured meteoritic material and the associated supernova nucleosynthesis models. We show that although the uncertainties are large, they hint at a marginal preference for an inverted neutrino mass hierarchy. We discuss the possibility that an analysis of more X grains enriched in Li and B along with a better understanding of the relevant stellar nuclear and neutrino reactions could eventually reveal the neutrino mass hierarchy.
ISSN:1550-7998
1550-2368