Quantum Information Probes Neutrinos, Exploring Beyond the Standard Model with Decoherence Effects

The fundamental nature of neutrinos and the search for physics beyond the Standard Model drive ongoing research at the forefront of theoretical physics, and a new investigation explores the powerful connection between quantum information theory and high-energy physics. Raoul Serao from Universita di Salerno and INFN, Gianpaolo Torre from Institut Ruder Bošković, and Antonio Capolupo from Universita di Salerno and INFN, lead a study that demonstrates how quantum mechanics offers novel tools to probe the elusive properties of neutrinos, including whether they are their own antiparticles, and to search for subtle violations of fundamental symmetries. This work establishes that analysing decoherence effects and unusual neutrino oscillations, alongside utilising entanglement measures, provides innovative ways to test the limits of established physics and potentially reveal interactions mediated by hypothetical particles like axions. By bridging these traditionally separate fields, the research team unlocks new avenues for exploring the deepest mysteries of the universe and advancing our understanding of fundamental particles and forces.

The work centers on neutrino properties, quantum entanglement, axion dark matter candidates, and the dynamics of open quantum systems, revealing connections between these seemingly disparate fields. Researchers investigate theoretical models of neutrino masses and mixing, alongside the foundational aspects of entanglement, quantum cryptography, and quantum teleportation, establishing entanglement as a crucial resource for quantum technologies. A significant portion of the research focuses on axions, hypothetical particles proposed as solutions to the strong CP problem and potential constituents of dark matter.

Scientists explore methods for detecting axions, examining their interactions with photons and searching for signatures of their existence. The work also delves into quantum field theory, specifically the behavior of quantum systems interacting with their environment, providing a framework for understanding decoherence and dissipation. The research highlights the potential of entanglement as a probe for axions, suggesting that the combination of axion research and quantum entanglement could enhance the sensitivity of axion detectors or reveal novel interactions. Scientists also investigate the role of entanglement in neutrino oscillations and explore the possibility of using quantum information techniques to improve our understanding of neutrino masses and mixing. This work establishes a rich and diverse research program at the intersection of particle physics, quantum information, and cosmology, emphasizing the quantum nature of fundamental interactions and the potential for quantum technologies to address some of the most challenging problems in physics.

Open Quantum Systems and Neutrino Decoherence

This work pioneers a rigorous approach to understanding neutrino behavior and potential new physics by explicitly modeling quantum systems interacting with their environment. Scientists developed a framework centered on open quantum systems, acknowledging that isolated systems are unrealistic and meticulously accounting for environmental interactions. The study employs the Gorini, Kossakowski, Lindblad, Sudarshan (GKLS) master equation to describe the non-unitary evolution of these systems, a mathematical tool crucial for modeling decoherence and dissipation. To investigate neutrino oscillations, the team engineered a detailed model where neutrinos interact with each other, potentially revealing violations of CPT symmetry, a fundamental principle of physics.

They extended this model to incorporate decoherence effects, utilizing the GKLS master equation to describe how environmental interactions influence neutrino behavior. This approach enables the identification of conditions under which CP symmetry, and consequently CPT symmetry, may be violated, offering a pathway to probe whether neutrinos are Dirac or Majorana particles. Furthermore, the research demonstrates how entanglement emerges between initially uncorrelated fermions over time, linking this phenomenon to a hypothetical interaction mediated by an axion field, a candidate particle for dark matter.

Neutrino Decoherence, CPT Violation, and Majorana Phases

This work explores the interplay between high-energy and particle physics, demonstrating how quantum information approaches can illuminate fundamental properties of neutrinos and potentially reveal new physics beyond the Standard Model. Researchers investigated decoherence effects and unconventional neutrino oscillation patterns, revealing dependencies on the Majorana phase which could distinguish between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos. The inclusion of gravitational interactions between neutrinos breaks translational symmetry, leading to a demonstrable violation of CPT symmetry, a cornerstone of fundamental physics. Measurements confirm that this symmetry breaking occurs even when incorporating decoherence effects described by the Gorini-Kossakowski-Lindblad-Sudarshan (GKLS) master equation.

The study further demonstrates a novel approach to searching for axions, hypothetical particles with masses ranging from 10 -6 to 10 -2, by examining entanglement between two fermions. Experiments reveal that entanglement generated through axion-mediated interactions can serve as indirect evidence for the existence of these particles and axion-like particles (ALPs). Researchers applied the GKLS master equation to model open quantum systems, accurately describing the non-unitary evolution of quantum states due to environmental interactions. This framework allows for a realistic description of quantum systems interacting with their surroundings, incorporating energy and information exchange.

Neutrino Decoherence, CPT Tests, and Axion Probes

This work demonstrates a strong connection between quantum information theory and high-energy physics, offering new tools to investigate fundamental properties of nature. Researchers have shown that interactions between neutrinos and their environment can cause decoherence, leading to deviations from standard neutrino oscillation patterns, and potentially revealing whether neutrinos are Dirac or Majorana particles. Furthermore, these decoherence mechanisms offer a pathway to test the validity of CPT symmetry, a cornerstone of the Standard Model, with any violation suggesting a need for a revised understanding of fundamental interactions and spacetime. Beyond neutrino dynamics, the team highlighted the utility of quantum entanglement measures as indirect probes of axion-mediated forces, complementing traditional detection techniques and potentially improving sensitivity in challenging parameter regimes. The study underscores the benefits of combining quantum information science, particle physics, and quantum field theory to design novel experimental strategies and theoretical models.