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A huge number of neutrinos emitted in core-collapse supernova explosions (ν process) play an important role in stellar nucleosynthesis of some rare nuclides. The study of the neutrino process can contribute to estimation of neutrino energy spectra and explosion mechanism. In the mass region heavier than iron, only three nuclides are known as the neutrino isotopes. If we can find other candidates for neutrino production, it helps to constrain precisely the neutrino energy spectra emitted from proto-neutron stars. A key input for the calculation of the neutrino process is destruction rates by photodisintegration reactions on excited nuclei at high temperature environments. We have proposed direct measurements of photon-induced reaction cross sections on nuclei excited by high power laser to simulate stellar environments.

We study the νν¯-pair and axion production from electron and proton, which occurs only under the strong magnetic field. We perform the exact relativistic quantum calculation including the Landau levels and the anomalous magnetic moment. Cooling by νν¯-pair and axion emission are shown to be much larger than neutrino cooling by the Urca processes. Thus, these processes by the strong magnetic field is expected to contribute very largely to the cooling process of the magnetar.

Stars ending with core collapse supernovae (SNe) emit a tremendous number of neutrinos during their explosions. While these neutrinos pass through each layer of the stars, they react with the nuclides in the progenitor. Although the neutrino cross sections are very small, its huge flux is high enough to react with nuclides to change their abundances. We consider this ν-process, by which abundances of some elements may be explained exclusively by this neutrino process. One of the candidates is 98Tc. In this study, we check the ν-process contributions due to the neutrino reactions. In this calculation we also include the neutrino oscillation effect in the matter with varying density, so called MSW effect, not only for 98Tc production but also 4He and 12C destruction, which occurs at first in the He/C layer in the present model.Stars ending with core collapse supernovae (SNe) emit a tremendous number of neutrinos during their explosions. While these neutrinos pass through each layer of the stars, they react with the nuclides in the progenitor. Although the neutrino cross sections are very small, its huge flux is high enough to react with nuclides to change their abundances. We consider this ν-process, by which abundances of some elements may be explained exclusively by this neutrino process. One of the candidates is 98Tc. In this study, we check the ν-process contributions due to the neutrino reactions. In this calculation we also include the neutrino oscillation effect in the matter with varying density, so called MSW effect, not only for 98Tc production but also 4He and 12C destruction, which occurs at first in the He/C layer in the present model.

We reviewed present status regarding theoretical approaches for neutrino-induced reactions and neutrino scattering. With a short introduction of relevant data, our recent calculations by distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) for quasielastic region are presented for MiniBooNE data. We also discussed that one step-process estimated by the DWBA is comparable to the two-step process, which has been usually used in the neutrino-nucleosynthesis. For much higher energy neutrino data, such as NOMAD data, elementary process approach was shown to be useful instead of using complicated nuclear models. But, in the low energy region, detailed nuclear structure model, such as QRPA and shell model, turn out to be inescapable to explain the reaction data.

We addressed possible ambiguities on the properties of neutron stars (NSs) estimated in theoretical sides. First, roles of hyperons inside the NS are discussed through various relativistic mean field (RMF) theories. In particular, the extension of SU(6) spin-flavor symmetry to SU(3) flavor symmetry is shown to give rise to the increase of hyperon threshold density, similarly to the Fock term effects in RMF theories. As a result, about 2.0 solar mass is obtained with the hyperons. Second, the effect by the modified f(R) gravity, which leaves a room for the dark energy in the Einstein equation to be taken into account, is discussed for the NS in a strong magnetic field (MF). Our results show that the modified gravity with the Kaluza-Klein electro-magnetism theory expanded in terms of a length scale parameter may reasonably describe the NS in strong MF, so called magnetar. Even the super-soft equation of state is shown to be revived by the modified f(R) gravity.

The nucleon form factors in free space are usually thought to be modified when a nucleon is bound in a nucleus or immersed in a nuclear medium. We investigated effects of the density-dependent axial and weak-vector form factors on the electro-neutrino (νe) and anti-electro-neutrino (νe) reactions with incident energy Ev ≤ 80 MeV via neutral current (NC) and charged current (CC) for a nucleon in a nuclear medium or 12C. For the density-dependent form factors, we exploited the quark-meson-coupling (QMC) model, and apply them to the νe and νe induced reactions by NC and CC. In CC reaction, about 5 % decrease of the electro neutrino (νe) reaction cross section on the nucleon is shown to be occurred in normal density, ρ = ρ0∼0.15fm−3, and also about 5 % reduction of total νe cross section on 12C is obtained by the modification of the weak form factors for bound nucleons. Density effects for both cases are relatively small, but they are as large as the effect by the Coulomb distortion of outgoing leptons in t...

Core-collapse supernovae eject huge amount of flux of energetic neutrinos which affect explosive nucleosynthesis of rare isotopes like 7Li, 11B, 92Nb, 138La and Ta and r-process elements. Several isotopes depend strongly on the neutrino flavor oscillation due to the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) effect. We here discuss how to determine the neutrino temperatures and propose a method to determine still unknown neutrino oscillation parameters, mass hierarchy and θ13, simultaneously. Combining the recent experimental constraints on θ13 with isotopic ratios of the light elements discovered in presolar grains from the Murchison meteorite, we show that our method suggests at a marginal preference for an inverted neutrino mass hierarchy. We also discuss supernova relic neutrinos that may indicate the softness of the equation of state (EoS) of nuclear matter as well as adiabatic conditions of the neutrino oscillation.

Core-collapse supernovae eject huge amount of flux of energetic neutrinos. We studied the explosive nucleosyn-thesis in supernovae and found that several isotopes 7Li, 11B, 92Nb, 138La and 180Ta as well as r-process nuclei are affected by the neutrino interactions. The abundance of these isotopes therefore depends strongly on the neutrino flavor oscillation due to the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) effect. We discuss first how to determine the neutrino temperatures in order to explain the observed solar system abundances of these isotopes, combined with Galactic chemical evolution of the light nuclei and the heavy r-process elements. We then study the effects of neutrino oscillation on their abundances, and propose a novel method to determine the still unknown neutrino oscillation parameters, mass hierarchy and θ13, simultaneously. There is recent evidence that SiC X grains from the Murchison meteorite may contain supernova-produced light elements 11B and 7Li encapsulated in the presolar grains. Combi...

We construct the equation of state in a wide-density range for neutron stars within relativistic Hartree-Fock approximation. The properties of uniform and nonuniform nuclear matter are studied consistently. The tensor couplings of vector mesons to baryons due to exchange contributions (Fock terms) are included, and the change of baryon internal structure in matter is also taken into account using the quark-meson coupling model. The Thomas-Fermi calculation is adopted to describe nonuniform matter, where the lattice of nuclei and the neutron drip out of nuclei are considered. Even if hyperons exist in the core of a neutron star, we obtain the maximum neutron-star mass of 1.95M⊙, which is consistent with the recently observed massive pulsar, PSR J1614-2230. In addition, the strange vector (φ) meson also plays a important role in supporting a massive neutron star.

Primordial 7Li abundance inferred from observations of metal-poor stars is a factor of about 3 lower than the theoretical value of standard big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) model. One of the solutions to the Li problem is 7Be destruction during the BBN epoch caused by a long-lived negatively charged massive particle, X−. The particle can bind to nuclei, and X-bound nuclei (X-nuclei) can experience new reactions. The radiative X− capture by 7Be nuclei followed by proton capture of the bound state of 7Be and X− (7Bex) is a possible 7Be destruction reaction. Since the primordial abundance of 7Li originates mainly from 7Li produced via the electron capture of 7Be after BBN, the 7Be destruction provides a solution to the 7Li problem. We suggest a new route of 7Bex formation, that is the 7Be charge exchange at the reaction of 7Be3+ ion and X−. The formation rate depends on the ionization fraction of 7Be3+ ion, the charge exchange cross section of 7Be3+, and the probability that excited states 7Bex* produced at th...

The Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies are the pillars of modern cosmology. It has recently been suggested that axion which is a dark matter candidate in the framework of the standard model could condensate in the early universe and induce photon cooling before the epoch of the photon last scattering. Although this may render a solution to the overproduction problem of primordial {sup 7}Li abundance, there arises another serious difficulty of overproducing D abundance. We propose a hybrid dark matter model with both axions and relic supersymmetric (SUSY) particles to solve both overproduction problems of the primordial D and {sup 7}Li abundances simultaneously. The BBN also serves to constrain the nature of neutrinos. Considering non-thermal photons produced in the decay of the heavy sterile neutrinos due to the magnetic moment, we explore the cosmological constraint on the strength of neutrino magnetic moment consistent with the observed light element abundances. Core-collapse supernovae eject huge flux of energetic neutrinos which affect explosive nucleosynthesis of rare isotopes like {sup 7}Li, {sup 11}B, {sup 92}Nb, {sup 138}La and {sup 180}Ta and r-process elements. Several isotopes depend strongly on the neutrino flavor oscillation due to the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) effect.more » Combining the recent experimental constraints on θ{sub 13} with predicted and observed supernova-produced abundance ratio {sup 11}B/{sup 7}Li encapsulated in the presolar grains from the Murchison meteorite, we show a marginal preference for an inverted neutrino mass hierarchy. We also discuss supernova relic neutrinos (SRN) that may indicate the softness of the equation of state (EoS) of nuclear matter and adiabatic conditions of the neutrino oscillation.« less

We review the case for and against a bulk cosmic motion resulting from the quantum entanglement of our universe with the multiverse beyond our horizon. Within the current theory for the selection of the initial state of the universe from the landscape multiverse there is a generic prediction that pre-inflation quantum entanglement with other universes should give rise to a cosmic bulk flow with a correlation length of order horizon size and a velocity field relative to the expansion frame of the universe. Indeed, the parameters of this motion are are tightly constrained. A robust prediction can be deduced indicating that there should be an overall motion of of about 800 km/s relative to the background space time as defined by the cosmic microwave background (CMB). This talk will summarize the underlying theoretical motivation for this hypothesis. Of course our motion relative to the background space time (CMB dipole) has been known for decades and is generally attributed to the gravitational pull of the local super cluster. However, this cosmic peculiar velocity field has been recently deduced out to very large distances well beyond that of the local super cluster by using X-ray galaxy clusters as tracers of matter motion. This is achieved via the kinematic component of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (KSZ) effect produced by Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons from the local hot intracluster gas. As such, this method measures peculiar velocity directly in the frame of the cluster. Similar attempts by our group and others have attempted to independently assess this bulk flow via Type la supernova redshifts. In this talk we will review the observation case for and against the existence of this bulk flow based upon the observations and predictions of the theory. If this interpretation is correct it has profound implications in that we may be observing for the first time both the physics that occurred before the big bang and the existence of the multiverse beyond our horizon.

Primordial nucleosynthesis remains as one of the pillars of modern cosmology. It is the test-ing ground upon which all cosmological models must ultimately rest. It is our only probe of the universe during the first few minutes of cosmic expansion and in particular during the important radiation-dominated epoch. These lectures review the basic equations of space-time, cosmology, and big bang nucleosynthesis. We will then review the current state of observational constraints on primordial abundances along with the key nuclear reactions and their uncertainties. We summarize which nuclear measure-ments are most crucial during the big bang. We also review various cosmological models and their constraints. In particular, we summarize the constraints that big bang nucleosynthesis places upon the possible time variation of fundamental constants, along with constraints on the nature and origin of dark matter and dark energy, long-lived supersymmetric particles, gravity waves, and the primordial magnetic field.

We calculate the neutrino production cross-section in the proto-neutron-star matter under a strong magnetic field in the relativistic mean-field approach. We introduce a new parameter-set which can reproduce the 1.96 solar mass neutron star. We find that the production process increases emitted neutrinos along the direction parallel to the magnetic field and decrease those along its opposite direction. It means that resultant asymmetry due to the neutrino absorption and scattering process in the magnetic field becomes larger by the addition of the neutrino production process.

We calculate neutrino scattering and absorption on the hot and dense neutron-star matter with hyperons under the strong magnetic field using a perturbative approach. We find that the absorption cross-sections show a remarkable angular dependence. Its strength is reduced in the direction parallel to the magnetic field and enhanced in the opposite direction. This asymmetric variation becomes maximally 2.2% of entire neutrino momentum when the magnetic field is assumed as about 2 × 1017G. Since the pulsar kick after the supernova explosion may have relationships to this asymmetry, detailed discussions about the pulsar kick and the asymmetry are presented with the comparison to the observed kick velocities in a fully relativistic approach.

Neutrinos play the critical roles in nucleosynthesis of light-to-heavy mass nuclei like 7Li, 11B, 138La and 180Ta in core-collapse supernovae. We find average neutrino temperatures of three flavor neutrinos so that the supernova nucleosynthesis models of the neutrino-process and the r-process can explain the observed solar-system abundance and Galactic chemical evolution of these isotopes. We propose a method to determine the unknown neutrino oscillation parameters θ13 and mass hierarchy by the use of the MSW effects on the supernova nucleosynthesis.

We summarize some current research on the formation and evolution of the universe and overview some of the key questions surrounding the the big bang. There are really only two observational cosmological probes of the physics of the early universe. Of those two, the only probe during the relevant radiation dominated epoch is the yield of light elements during the epoch of big bang nucleosynthesis. The synthesis of light elements occurs in the temperature regime from 108 to 1010 K and times of about 1 to 104 sec into the big bang. The other probe is the spectrum of temperature fluctuations in the CMB which (among other things) contains information of the first quantum fluctuations in the universe, along with details of the distribution and evolution of dark matter, baryonic matter and photons up to the surface of photon last scattering. Here, we emphasize the role of these probes in answering some key questions of the big bang and early universe cosmology.

Neutrino-induced reactions have been known to play important roles as the neutrino process on the nucleosynthesis in core collapsing supernovae (SNe) explosions because expected neutrino flux and energy are sufficiently high enough to excite many relevant nuclei in spite of small cross sections of the weak interaction. However, we do not have enough data for the neutrino reaction to be exploited in the network calculation. Only a sparse data in the relevant energy range is known, in specific, for 12C. Therefore we have to rely on theoretical estimation of the reaction, which has two different modes, charge current (CC) and neutral current (NC). In particular, CC reactions are closely related to charge exchange reactions (CEXRs) which are feasible in the experiment, such as, (p,n) or (n,p) reactions. These CEXRs are usually dominated by the Gamow-Teller (GT) transition in the lower energy region. In this respect, any theoretical approaches for the neutrino reaction should be investigated for the CEXR becau...

We calculated neutrino‐induced reactions in the energy range below the quasi‐elastic region for nuclei of astrophysical importance. Neutrino‐induced reactions have been found to be important for the nucleosynthesis in core collapsing supernovae explosions because expected neutrino flux is sufficiently high enough to excite many relevant nuclei in spite of small cross sections of the weak interaction. Our calculations are carried out with the Quasi‐particle Random Phase Approximation (QRPA), which successfully described the nuclear beta decays of relevant nuclei by taking neutron‐proton pairing as well as neutron‐neutron and proton‐proton pairing correlations into account. To describe neutrino‐nucleus reactions, general multipole transitions by the weak interaction with finite momentum transfers are considered for neutral and charged current reactions. Both reactions are described in a theoretical framework. Our results are shown to well reproduce the sparse experimental data and extended further for neutrino reactions on various nuclear targets. Parts of the results are reported in this talk.

An SU(2) effective lagrangian is extended to an SUL(3)⊗SUR(3) by including the vector and axial vector meson. With this effective lagrangian, electromagnetic form factors of charged pion and kaon are calculated in both time- and space-like regions. Good agreement with experimental data is obtained for those form factors. Decay widths of ρ→ππ and φ→K+K− are also calculated and shown to agree with experimental data very well.