Constraints on heavy neutrino decays in the early universe

A numerical model of interactions of photons with the electron-proton plasma in the early universe at temperatures below the electron rest mass is used to constrain the branching ratio for massive neutrinos and photons. The model includes the double Compton process, which was shown49, 80 to be more important than bremsstrahlung at the relatively low densities of electrons and protons encountered. A generalised kinetic equation for interactions of electromagnetic radiation with matter in an expanding universe is derived.

neutrino: decay
decay: neutrino
neutrino: heavy
neutrino: branching ratio
astrophysics
electron p: plasma
scattering: photon plasma
photon plasma: scattering
Compton scattering
photon: gas

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