Neutrinos with Zee-Mass Matrix in Vacuum and Matter

Abstract

Neutrino mass matrix generated by the Zee (radiative) mechanism has zero (in general, small) diagonal elements and a natural hierarchy of the nondiagonal elements. It can be considered as an alternative (with strong predictive power) to the matrices generated by the see-saw mechanism. The propagation in medium of the neutrinos with the Zee-mass matrix is studied. The flavor neutrino transitions are described analytically. In the physically interesting cases the probabilities of transitions as functions of neutrino energy can be represented as two-neutrino probabilities modulated by the effect of vacuum oscillations related to the small mass splitting. Possible applications of the results to the solar, supernova, atmospheric and relic neutrinos are discussed. A set of the predictions is found which could allow to identify the Zee-mass matrix and therefore the corresponding mechanism of mass generation.