Stringent constraint on the scalar-neutrino coupling constant from quintessential cosmology

Abstract

An extremely light ($m_{\varphi }\ll 10^{-33}\mathrm{eV}$), slowly-varying scalar field $\varphi$ (quintessence) with a potential energy density as large as 60% of the critical density has been proposed as the origin of the accelerated expansion of the Universe at present. The interaction of this smoothly distributed component with another predominately smooth component, the cosmic neutrino background, is studied. The slow-roll approximation for generic $\varphi$ potentials may then be used to obtain a limit on the scalar-neutrino coupling constant, found to be many orders of magnitude more stringent than the limits set by observations of neutrinos from SN 1987A. In addition, if quintessential theory allows for a violation of the equivalence principle in the sector of neutrinos, the current solar neutrino data can probe such a violation at the 10^{-10} level.

7 pages, MPLA in press, some parts disregarded and a footnote added

Cited by in corpus (9)

• The Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy
• The Cosmological Constant
• Dark Energy and Neutrino Mass Limits from Baryogenesis
• Thermal leptogenesis in a model with mass varying neutrinos
• Probing Quantum Violations of the Equivalence Principle
• Interplay Between Gravity and Quintessence: A Set of New GR Solutions
• Mass-Varying Neutrinos from a Variable Cosmological Constant
• Observable interactions of quintessence with ordinary matter and neutrinos
• Quintessence and Thermal Matter