Neutrino-neutrino and neutrino-matter helicity flip interactions

Abstract

Taking into account that neutrinos are massive particles and that they are produced mainly as states of negative helicity, we show that the neutral and charged current interactions change these neutrinos into transversally polarized states. This implies a considerable reduction of the neutrino flux when propagating through ordinary matter (electrons, protons and neutrons). The same happens when neutrinos propagate through the sea of relic neutrinos if these neutrinos are degenerate fermions. However, in this case the change of helicity depends on the value of the neutrino--anti-neutrino asymmetry.