Sterile-active neutrino oscillations and shortcuts in the extra dimension

Abstract

We discuss a possible new resonance in active-sterile neutrino oscillations arising in theories with large extra dimensions. Fluctuations in the brane effectively increase the path-length of active neutrinos relative to the path-length of sterile neutrinos through the extra-dimensional bulk. Well below the resonance, the standard oscillation formulas apply. Well above the resonance, active-sterile oscillations are suppressed. We show that a resonance energy in the range of 30-400 MeV allows an explanation of all neutrino oscillation data, including LSND data, in a consistent four-neutrino model. A high resonance energy implies an enhanced signal in MiniBooNE. A low resonance energy implies a distorted energy spectrum in LSND, and an enhanced v_mu depletion from a stopped-pion source. The numerical value of the resonance energy may be related back to the geometric aspects of the brane world. Some astrophysical and cosmological consequences of the brane-bulk resonance are briefly sketched.

26 pages, 6 figures, predictions for v_mu disappearance at SNS added, version to appear in PRD