1210.7987 (A. E. Bernardini et al.)

The C$ν$B energy density through the quantum measurement theory    [PDF]

A. E. Bernardini, V. A. S. V. Bittencourt

We apply concepts from the quantum measurement theory to obtain some cosmological neutrino background (C$\nu$B) properties and discuss their relevance in defining theoretical bounds on cosmological neutrino energy density. Describing three neutrino generations as a composite quantum system through the generalized theory of quantum measurement provides us with the probabilistic correlation between observable energies and neutrino flavor eigenstates. By observing that flavor-{\em averaged} and flavor-{\em weighted} energies are the quantum observables respectively generated by {\em selective} and {\em non-selective} quantum measurement schemes, it is possible to identify the constraints on the effective mass value expression that determines the neutrino contribution to the energy density of the cosmic inventory. Our results agree with the quantum mechanics viewpoint that asserts that the cosmological neutrino energy density is obtained from a coherent sum of mass eigenstate energies, for normal and inverted mass hierarchies.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.7987