Quantum treatment of neutrino in background matter

Abstract

Motivated by the need of elaboration of the quantum theory of the spin light of neutrino in matter ($SL\nu$), we have studied in more detail the exact solutions of the Dirac equation for neutrinos moving in the background matter. These exact neutrino wavefunctions form a basis for a rather powerful method of investigation of different neutrino processes in matter, which is similar to the Furry representation of quantum electrodynamics in external fields. Within this method we also derive the corresponding Dirac equation for an electron moving in matter and consider the electromagnetic radiation ("spin light of electron in matter", $SLe$) that can be emitted by the electron in this case.