Sterile Neutrinos in a 6x6 Matrix Approach

Abstract

Quark-lepton symmetry invites consideration of the existence of sterile neutrinos. Long ago, we showed that this approach predicts large neutrino mixing amplitudes. Using a Weyl spinor approach, we show, in an analytic example, how this, and pseudo-Dirac pairing, can develop within a reduced rank version of the conventional see-saw mechanism, from small intrinsic mixing strengths. We show by numerical examples that mixing of active and sterile neutrinos can affect the structure of oscillations relevant to extraction of neutrino mixing parameters from neutrino oscillation data.

12pp., 6 figs., published; Proc of the Festschrift for B.H.J. McKellar and G. Joshi, U of Melbourne, 29-30 Nov. 2006, ed. R. Volkas