Enhanced Muonization by Active-Sterile Neutrino Mixing in Protoneutron Stars

Anupam Ray, Yong-Zhong Qian.

22 Apr 2024.

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Abstract

We study $\nu_\mu$ – $\nu_s$ and $\bar\nu_\mu$ – $\bar\nu_s$ mixing in the protoneutron star (PNS) created in a core-collapse supernova (CCSN). We point out the importance of the feedback on the general composition of the PNS in addition to the obvious feedback on the $\nu_\mu$ lepton number. We show that for our adopted mixing parameters $\delta m^2\sim 10^2\,$ keV $^2$ and $\sin^2 2\theta$ consistent with the current constraints, sterile neutrino production is dominated by the Mikheyev $-$ Smirnov $-$ Wolfenstein conversion of $\bar\nu_\mu$ into $\bar\nu_s$ and that the subsequent escape of $\bar\nu_s$ increases the $\nu_\mu$ lepton number, which in turn enhances muonization of the PNS primarily through $\nu_\mu+n\to p+\mu^-$ . We find that this enhancement is amplified by diffusion of the $\nu_e$ and $\nu_\mu$ lepton numbers. While these results are qualitatively robust, their quantitative effects on the dynamics and active neutrino emission of CCSNe should be evaluated by including $\nu_\mu$ – $\nu_s$ and $\bar\nu_\mu$ – $\bar\nu_s$ mixing in the simulations.