New Supernova Constraints on Sterile Neutrino Production

Abstract

We consider the possibility that a light sterile-neutrino species $ν_S$ can be produced by $ν_e$ scattering during the cooling of a proto-neutron star. If we parameterize the sterile neutrino production cross-section by a parameter $A$ as $σ(ν_e X\rightarrow ν_S X) = A σ(ν_e X\rightarrow ν_e X)$, where $X$ is an electron, neutron or proton, we show that $A$ is constrained by limits to the conversion of $ν_e$ to $ν_S$ in the region between the sterile-neutrino trapping region and the electron-neutrino trapping region. This consideration excludes values of $A$ in the range between $10^{-4} \la A \la 10^{-1}$.