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Direct Detection of the Cosmic Neutrino Background Including Light Sterile Neutrinos
- Source :
- Phys.Lett.B692:261-267,2010
- Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Current cosmological data drop an interesting hint about the existence of sub-eV sterile neutrinos, which should be a part of the cosmic neutrino background (C$\nu$B). We point out that such light sterile neutrinos may leave a distinct imprint on the electron energy spectrum in the capture of relic electron neutrinos by means of radioactive beta-decaying nuclei. We examine possible signals of sterile neutrinos relative to active neutrinos, characterized by their masses and sensitive to their number densities, in the reaction $\nu^{}_e + ~^3{\rm H} \to ~^3{\rm He} + e^-$ against the corresponding tritium beta decay. We stress that this kind of direct laboratory detection of the C$\nu$B and its sterile component might not be hopeless in the long term.<br />Comment: Minor changes. Accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Phys.Lett.B692:261-267,2010
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.1007.0914
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2010.07.055