Studying Both the Universe and Neutrinos Themselves Using Cosmic and Astrophysical Neutrinos

Abstract

With neutrino astronomy just beginning to burgeon, and the prospects of detecting the cosmic neutrino background closer than ever, we live in an era with the unique opportunity not only to investigate the universe with this novel probe, but conversely to utilise the cosmos as a laboratory to study neutrinos themselves. This thesis aims to expound on some of the ways to seize this opportunity, using corollaries of our standard model, gravitational lensing, inverse beta decay, and the neutrino's spin to achieve our goals. Theoretically, these tools prove insightful and impressive, but difficulties in experimental precision and a low rate of certain astrophysical events hinder the capabilities of these mechanisms. Regardless, the future of neutrino astronomy is certainly bright.