Right Handed Neutrinos/Heavy Neutral Leptons

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SUMMARY

Right-handed neutrinos (RH neutrinos) are considered heavy neutral leptons (HNL) in specific theoretical frameworks, such as the minimal model of the vMSM (very minimal Standard Model). The discussion highlights that RH neutrinos in Left-Right extensions of the Standard Model may also qualify as HNL. It is established that RH neutrinos cannot be a significant component of dark matter due to their insufficient mass, which prevents them from forming structures early in the universe. The concept of warm dark matter is introduced as a plausible alternative, suggesting that dark matter could have a non-zero temperature in the early universe.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of right-handed neutrinos and their role in particle physics
  • Familiarity with the minimal model of the very minimal Standard Model (vMSM)
  • Knowledge of dark matter theories, particularly warm dark matter models
  • Basic concepts of the Standard Model and its extensions, including Left-Right symmetry
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of right-handed neutrinos in the vMSM framework
  • Explore the characteristics and theories surrounding warm dark matter
  • Investigate the role of heavy neutral leptons in particle physics
  • Examine the Left-Right extensions of the Standard Model and their significance
USEFUL FOR

Particle physicists, cosmologists, and researchers interested in the properties of neutrinos and dark matter theories will benefit from this discussion.

Trixie Mattel
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When are right handed neutrinos considered to be heavy neutral leptons (HNL).

For instance are the RH neutrinos in the vMSM HNL?
Are the RH neutrinos in the Left-Right extensions of the standard model HNL?Thank you
 
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Hi Trixie:

I am surprised that no one has so far responded to your question. I am certainly very far from being an expert, but I have been interested in the possibility that RH Neutrinos might be (most of) dark matter. I was not familiar with the abbreviations vMSM but found the following.
http://www-thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/people/KyleAllison/vmsm.html
There was a discussion in another thread implying a minimum mass for such particles based on the fact that if the particles were too light, it would change known observations.
Here are some quotes from a post by @Chalnoth.

Neutrinos as a significant component of the dark matter are definitely out, as they are way too light, and wouldn't be able to form structures early enough in the universe to explain observations.​

As for the possibility of kinetic energy, yes, it's absolutely conceivable that the dark matter has a temperature in our early universe that is measurably different from zero. This is contained in the proposed "warm dark matter" models. These models don't currently have much in the way of supporting evidence, but many are plausible.​

Regards,
Buzz
 
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