Neutrino decay as a possible interpretation to the MiniBooNE observation with unparticle scenario

Abstract

In a new measurement on neutrino oscillation $ν_μ\toν_e$, the MiniBooNE Collaboration observes an excess of electron-like events at low energy and the phenomenon may demand an explanation which obviously is beyond the oscillation picuture. We propose that heavier neutrino $ν_2$ decaying into a lighter one $ν_1$ via the transition process $ν_μ\to ν_e+X$ where $X$ denotes any light products, could be a natural mechanism. The theoretical model we employ here is the unparticle scenario established by Georgi. We have studied two particular modes $ν_μ\to ν_e+\Un$ and $ν_μ\to ν_e+\barν_e+ν_e$. Unfortunately, the number coming out from the computation is too small to explain the observation. Moreover, our results are consistent with the cosmology constraint on the neutrino lifetime and the theoretical estimation made by other groups, therefore we can conclude that even though neutrino decay seems plausible in this case, it indeed cannot be the source of the peak at lower energy observed by the MiniBooNE collaboration and there should be other mechanisms responsible for the phenomenon.

14 pages, conclusions are changed; published version for EPJC