Anomaly mediated neutrino-photon interactions at finite baryon density

Harvey, Jeffrey A.; Hill, Christopher T.; Hill, Richard J.

Anomaly mediated neutrino-photon interactions at finite baryon density

Authors

Harvey, Jeffrey A.

Hill, Christopher T.

Hill, Richard J.

Description

We propose new physical processes based on the axial vector anomaly and described by the Wess-Zumino-Witten term that couples the photon, Z-boson, and the omega-meson. The interaction takes the form of a pseudo-Chern-Simons term, $\sim ε_{μνρσ}ω^μZ^νF^{ρσ}$. This term induces neutrino-photon interactions at finite baryon density via the coupling of the Z-boson to neutrinos. These interactions may be detectable in various laboratory and astrophysical arenas. The new interactions may account for the MiniBooNE excess. They also produce a competitive contribution to neutron star cooling at temperatures >10^9 K. These processes and related axion--photon interactions at finite baryon density appear to be relevant in many astrophysical regimes.
4 pages, 2 figures; references added