Flavor oscillations in the supernova hot bubble region: Nonlinear effects of neutrino background

Abstract

The neutrino flux close to a supernova core contributes substantially to neutrino refraction so that flavor oscillations become a nonlinear phenomenon. One unexpected consequence is efficient flavor transformation for anti-neutrinos in a region where only neutrinos encounter an MSW resonance or vice versa. Contrary to previous studies we find that in the neutrino-driven wind the electron fraction Y_e always stays below 0.5, corresponding to a neutron-rich environment as required by r-process nucleosynthesis. The relevant range of masses and mixing angles includes the region indicated by LSND, but not the atmospheric or solar oscillation parameters.

5 pages, 2 figures (second one available in color and b/w). To be published in PRL