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Paper   IPM / P / 9527
School of Physics
  Title:   Reconciling Results of LSND, MiniBooNE and Other Experiments with Soft Decoherence
  Author(s): 
1.  Y. Farzan
2.  T. Schwetz
3.  A.Y. Smirnov
  Status:   Published
  Journal: JHEP
  Vol.:  07
  Year:  2008
  Pages:   067
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
We propose an explanation of the LSND signal via quantum-decoherence of the mass states, which leads to damping of the interference terms in the oscillation probabilities. The decoherence parameters as well as their energy dependence are chosen in such a way that the damping affects only oscillations with the large (atmospheric) ∆m2 and rapidly decreases with the neutrino energy. This allows us to reconcile the positive LSND signal with MiniBooNE and other null-result experiments. The standard explanations of solar, atmospheric, KamLAND and MINOS data are not affected. No new particles, and in particular, no sterile neutrinos are needed. The LSND signal is controlled by the 1-3 mixing angle θ13 and, depending on the degree of damping, yields 0.0014 < sin2θ13 < 0.034 at 3σ. The scenario can be tested at upcoming θ13 searches: while the comparison of near and far detector measurements at reactors should lead to a null-result a positive signal for θ13 is expected in long-baseline accelerator experiments. The proposed decoherence may partially explain the results of Gallium detector calibrations and it can strongly affect supernova neutrino signals.


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