Why is the helicity of a neutrino unchanged by the weak interaction?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the behavior of neutrinos in weak interactions, specifically addressing why the helicity of a neutrino remains unchanged despite these interactions. The scope includes theoretical considerations and technical aspects of particle physics, particularly in relation to the weak interaction Lagrangian and the properties of massive versus massless neutrinos.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the weak interaction Lagrangian contains terms that couple left-handed neutrinos to right-handed ones, suggesting this could influence helicity.
  • Another participant discusses the implications of helicity being equivalent to chirality for massless particles, raising the question of whether this equivalence holds for massive neutrinos.
  • A different participant points out the absence of a specific term (1 + γ^5) in the Lagrangian, which they argue is relevant to the helicity discussion.
  • One participant asserts that the term involving Zμ and the left-handed neutrino could imply a coupling that involves both helicities, presenting a mathematical expression related to the helicity eigenstates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the weak interaction can change the helicity of neutrinos, with some arguing that it cannot and others suggesting that certain terms in the Lagrangian may allow for helicity changes. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the nature of neutrinos (massive vs. massless) and the specific terms in the weak interaction Lagrangian that may or may not influence helicity. The discussion does not reach a consensus on these points.

Final
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Hi...

Consider a neutrino with a Dirac mass m_\nu and the weak interaction

{\cal{L}}=\frac{g}{2 \sqrt{2}} \sum_l[{W_{\mu}^+ \cdot \bar{\psi}_{\nu_l} \gamma^{\mu}(1-\gamma_5)\psi_l + W_{\mu}^- \cdot \bar{\psi}_{l} \gamma^{\mu}(1-\gamma_5)\psi_{\nu_l} }\right{]} + \frac{g}{4 \cos(\theta_w)} <br /> \sum_l Z_{\mu}[ \bar{\psi}_{\nu_l} \gamma^{\mu}(1-\gamma_5)\psi_{\nu_l} +\bar{\psi}_{l} \gamma^{\mu}(a+b\gamma_5)\psi_{l} ]
Why this interaction doesn't change the helicity of the neutrino? It is true?
 
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Do you have any elements in that interaction that have a left-handed neutrino on one side of the operator and a right-handed one on the other?
 
For massless particle ok, because the elicity is the chirality projector \frac{1 \pm \gamma^5}{2}... But for a massive neutrino? It's the same?
 
I don't see any 1+\gamma^5 there, do you? Which leads me back to my original point: do you see anything in the Lagrangian which has a left-handed neutrino on one side of the operator and a right-handed one on the other?
 
Yes... For example Z_{\mu} \bar{\psi}_{\nu_l} \gamma^{\mu}(1-\gamma_5)\psi_{\nu_l}. You may take \nu \rightarrow \nu +Z with the first neutrino left-handed and the second right-handed.
The amplitude is {\cal{M}}_{fi} \approx \bar{u}&#039; \gamma^{\mu}(1-\gamma_5)u \epsilon_{\mu}
with u^t=\sqrt{\epsilon+m}(\omega_+,\frac{\vec{p}\cdot\vec{\sigma}}{\epsilon+m}\omega_+ ) and u&#039;^t=\sqrt{\epsilon&#039;+m}(\omega_-,\frac{\vec{p&#039;}\cdot\vec{\sigma}}{\epsilon+m}\omega_- ) where \omega_{\pm} are the eigenstates of the elicity...
 

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