2004/12/27 by A. Yu. Smirnov, A Yu Smirnov
Physics and Astronomy · #Adiabatic process #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Mixing (physics) #Neutrino #Neutrino Physics Research #Neutrino oscillation #Oscillation (cell signaling) #Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics #Solar neutrino #Solar neutrino problem #Supernova #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0031-8949/2005/t121/008
published as Phys.Scripta T121 (2005) 57-64 · 18 pages, latex, 6 figures, talk given at the Nobel Symposium 129, ``Neutrino Physics'', Haga Slott, August 19 - 24, 2004
arxiv created 2004/12/27 · openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The MSW (Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein) effect is the adiabatic or partially adiabatic neutrino flavor conversion in media with varying density. The main notions related to the effect, its dynamics and physical picture are reviewed. The large mixing MSW effect is realized inside the Sun providing a solution of the solar neutrino problem. The small mixing MSW effect driven by the 1–3 mixing can be realized for the supernova (SN) neutrinos. Inside collapsing stars new elements of the MSW dynamics may show up: non-oscillatory transition, non-adiabatic conversion, time dependent adiabaticity violation induced by shock waves. Effects of the resonance enhancement and the parametric enhancement of oscillations can be realized for atmospheric and accelerator neutrinos in the Earth. Precise results for neutrino oscillations in low density media with arbitrary density profile are presented and the attenuation effect is described. The area of applications is the solar and SN neutrinos inside the Earth, and the results are crucial for the neutrino oscillation tomography.