Introduction to the physics of massive and mixed neutrinos. (Q986043)

This book is an introduction to the physics of massive and mixed neutrinos. In 12 chapters followed by 3 appendices, the author discusses various topics in neutrino physics. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the subject which reviews the history of neutrino physics. Chapter 2 contains a discussion of the status of weak interaction before the standard model. The author begins with a brief review of the development of the phenomenological V - A current \(x\) current theory of the weak interaction starting from Pauli's hypothesis of the neutrino and Fermi's theory of beta decay. In Chapter 3, the Standard Model is considered and the Higgs mechanism of the generation of masses or quarks and leptons is discussed in some details. The mass terms for neutrinos in the Dirac and Majorana cases are then considered in Chapter 4 where the procedure for diagonalization of the mass terms in both cases is described. Chapter 5 is devoted to the detailed consideration of the general properties of the neutrino mixing matrix. In Chapter 6 the theory of neutrino oscillations in vacuum is presented. Flavour neutrino transitions in matter are discussed in Chapter 7. Wolfenstein equation for neutrino evolution in matter is derived first. Then the adiabatic solution of this equation and the resonance MSW effect are considered. Chapter 8 is dedicated to the neutrinoless double beta-decay of even-even nuclei. Basic elements of the theory of the decay are presented. In Chapter 9 absolute values of neutrino masses are discussed. Neutrino oscillation experiments are covered in Chapter 10. In Chapter 11 neutrino in cosmology is covered. The last chapter is on conclusions and future prospects. The three appendices describe diagonalization of Hermitian, complex and complex symmetrical matrices.