Abstract
A new mechanism for neutrino (ν) decay in the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) regime of weak mixing and small ν mass differences is pointed out. Even though electron-neutrinos () in this regime are practically stable, in solar matter, conversion of the to a ‘‘heavier’’ flavor by the MSW effect can catalyze ν decay. MSW+ν decay into Majorons can lead to a strong solar antineutrino signal in proposed experiments, directly probing ν-Majoron couplings ∼700 times smaller than the present laboratory bound of <4.5×.
- Received 21 September 1987
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.38.1317
©1988 American Physical Society