SEMINAR

Neutrino Flavor States and the Quantum Theory of Neutrino Oscillations

Prof. Carlo Giunti

(INFN,Torino, Italy)

Sala P7, IST, Edifício Matemática
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 04:00 PM

Abstract

The standard theory of neutrino oscillations is reviewed, with a critical discussion of the main assumptions. The definition of the neutrino flavor states is clarified. It is shown that a flavor neutrino state that describes a neutrino produced or detected in a charged-current weak interaction process depends on the process under consideration and is appropriate for the description of neutrino oscillations as well as for the calculation of neutrino production or detection rates. Hence, we have a consistent framework for the description of neutrino oscillations and interactions in neutrino oscillation experiments. A brief description of the wave-packet theory of neutrino oscillations is also given, with a discussion of its motivations. Finally, we answer the commonly asked question "Do charged leptons oscillate?".