Impact of sterile neutrino dark matter on core-collapse supernovae

Mar 17, 2016
17 pages
Published in:
  • Int.J.Mod.Phys.A 31 (2016) 25, 1650137
  • Published: Sep 2, 2016
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Abstract: (World Scientific)
We summarize the impact of sterile neutrino dark matter on core-collapse supernova explosions. We explore various oscillations between electron neutrinos or mixed μ − τ neutrinos and right-handed sterile neutrinos that may occur within a core-collapse supernova. In particular, we consider sterile neutrino masses and mixing angles that are consistent with sterile neutrino dark matter candidates as indicated by recent X-ray flux measurements. We find that the interpretation of the observed 3.5 keV X-ray excess as due to a decaying 7 keV sterile neutrino that comprises 100% of the dark matter would have almost no observable effect on supernova explosions. However, in the more realistic case in which the decaying sterile neutrino comprises only a small fraction of the total dark matter density due to the presence of other sterile neutrino flavors, WIMPs, etc. a larger mixing angle is allowed. In this case a 7 keV sterile neutrino could have a significant impact on core-collapse supernovae. We also consider mixing between μ − τ neutrinos and sterile neutrinos. We find, however, that this mixing does not significantly alter the explosion and has no observable effect on the neutrino luminosities at early times.
Note:
  • 18 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Modern Physics Letters A
  • 14.60.St
  • 15.50.+x
  • 97.60.Bw
  • 14.60.Pq
  • Supernova neutrinos
  • dark matter theory
  • core-collapse supernovae
  • neutrino: dark matter
  • neutrino: sterile: mass
  • neutrino: luminosity