TY - JOUR
T1 - Amplification of neutrino oscillations by a density ripple in dense plasmas
AU - Shukla, P. K.
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - It is shown that a pre-existing electron density ripple in a dense plasma can excite electron neutrino oscillations. For our purposes, we use the dispersion relation for neutrino oscillations and derive the Mathieu equation for the propagation of neutrino oscillations in the presence of a spatially oscillating electron density ripple. The Mathieu equation predicts instability of neutrino oscillations. The criterion under which instability occurs is presented. Analytical expressions for the neutrino oscillation frequency and the growth rate are obtained. The possible relevance of our investigation to non-thermal neutrino oscillations in dense plasma environments (e.g. the supernovae, the core of white dwarf stars etc.) is briefly mentioned.
AB - It is shown that a pre-existing electron density ripple in a dense plasma can excite electron neutrino oscillations. For our purposes, we use the dispersion relation for neutrino oscillations and derive the Mathieu equation for the propagation of neutrino oscillations in the presence of a spatially oscillating electron density ripple. The Mathieu equation predicts instability of neutrino oscillations. The criterion under which instability occurs is presented. Analytical expressions for the neutrino oscillation frequency and the growth rate are obtained. The possible relevance of our investigation to non-thermal neutrino oscillations in dense plasma environments (e.g. the supernovae, the core of white dwarf stars etc.) is briefly mentioned.
KW - electron density ripple
KW - electron neutrino oscillations
KW - Mathieu equation
KW - dense plasma environment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79956121964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8259171&fulltextType=LT&fileId=S002237781000070X
U2 - 10.1017/S002237781000070X
DO - 10.1017/S002237781000070X
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-3778
VL - 77
SP - 289
EP - 291
JO - Journal of Plasma Physics
JF - Journal of Plasma Physics
IS - 3
ER -