Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:hep-ph/0604044 · Physics of Particles and Nuclei

On neutrino oscillations and the time-energy uncertainty relation

S. M. Bilenky, M. D. Mateev

Published Feb 1, 2007• 18 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We consider neutrino oscillations as a nonstationary phenomenon based on the Schrödinger evolution equation and mixed neutrino states with definite flavor. We demonstrate that for such states, invariance under translations in time does not take place. We show that the time-energy uncertainty relation plays a crucial role in neutrino oscillations. We compare neutrino oscillations with K 0 ⇆ -K 0, B 0 ⇆ B 0 , and other oscillations.

DOI
10.1134/s1063779607010042

Related papers

On neutrino oscillations and time–energy uncertainty relation

Samoil M. Bilenky

Neutrino oscillations is a phenomenon which is characterized by a finite oscillation time (length). For such phenomena time-energy uncertainty relation is valid. This means that energy uncertainty is needed for oscillations to occur. We consider neutrino oscillations from this point of view. We demonstrate that for mixed neutrino states, which describe flavor neutrinos $\\nu_{e}$, $\\nu_{\\mu}$ and $\\nu_{\\tau}$, translational invariance does not take place.

arXiv:hep-ph/0605228•Physica Scripta•Sep 1, 2006•7 citations

Neutrino Oscillations and Time-Energy Uncertainty Relation

S. M. Bilenky

Neutrino oscillations is a phenomenon which is characterized by a finite oscillation time (length). For such phenomena time-energy uncertainty relation is valid. This means that energy uncertainty is needed for oscillations to occur. We consider neutrino oscillations from this point of view. We demonstrate that for mixed neutrino states, which describe flavor neutrinos $ν_{e}$, $ν_μ$ and $ν_τ$, translational invariance does not take place.

arXiv:hep-ph/0512215•Dec 16, 2005•0 citations

Time–Energy Uncertainty Relation for Neutrino Oscillations: Historical Development, Applications, and Future Prospects

Giuseppe Gaetano Luciano, L. A. Smaldone

The time–energy uncertainty relation (TEUR) plays a fundamental role in quantum mechanics, as it allows the grasping of peculiar aspects of a variety of phenomena based on very general principles and symmetries of the theory. Using the Mandelstam–Tamm method, TEUR has recently been derived for neutrino oscillations by connecting the uncertainty in neutrino energy with the characteristic timescale of oscillations. Interestingly, the suggested interpretation of neutrinos as unstable-like particles has proved to naturally emerge in this context. Further aspects were later discussed in semiclassical gravity theory, by computing corrections to the neutrino energy uncertainty in a generic stationary curved spacetime, and in quantum field theory, where the clock observable turns out to be identified with the non-conserved flavor charge operator. In the present work, we give an overview on the above achievements. In particular, we analyze the implications of TEUR and explore the impact of gravitational and non-relativistic effects on the standard condition for neutrino oscillations.

arXiv:2310.12124•Symmetry•Nov 8, 2023•5 citations

Quantum field theory at finite time and neutrino oscillations

Massimo Blasone A, Francesco Giacosa, L. A. Smaldone +1 more

We discuss the role of finite time and energy uncertainty in the quantum field theory description of neutrino oscillations. In order to to achieve this goal, we review the flavor Fock-space approach and the time-energy uncertainty relation in the Mandelstam--Tamm form, expressed as a flavor-energy uncertainty relation. Such relation, together with the inequivalence of mass and flavor neutrinos Fock spaces, puts a lower bound on neutrino energy uncertainty. Similar considerations can be derived by a perturbative computation of flavor transitions, which employs the Dirac picture to compute flavor transition probability. Remarkably, both flavor Fock space and interaction picture approach lead to the same oscillation probability, within the approximation adopted in the perturbative calculation.

Corfu Summer Institute School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity (CORFU)•Jul 31, 2024•1 citation

Flavor-energy uncertainty relations for neutrino oscillations in quantum field theory

Massimo Blasone A, Petr Jizba B, L. A. Smaldone

In the context of quantum field theory, we derive flavor-energy uncertainty relations for neutrino oscillations. By identifying the nonconserved flavor charges with the ``clock observables,'' we arrive at the Mandelstam-Tamm version of time-energy uncertainty relations. In the ultrarelativistic limit, these relations yield the well-known condition for neutrino oscillations. Ensuing nonrelativistic corrections to the latter are explicitly evaluated. The analogy among flavor states and unstable particles and a novel interpretation of our uncertainty relations, based on the unitary inequivalence of Fock spaces for flavor and massive neutrinos, are also discussed.

arXiv:1810.01648•Physical review. D/Physical review. D.•Jan 24, 2019•30 citations

Quantum Decoherence in Neutrino Oscillations

Emilio Ciuffoli

Quantum decoherence in neutrino oscillations was theorized almost 50 years ago, however there is still no clear theoretical understanding of this phenomenon, not even agreement on whether or not it could be observed at all. Treating all particles, including the source and detector, consistently in QFT, we are working on a model where the decoherence emerges from the time evolution of the initial state. We started by studying some simplified cases, obtaining nonetheless interesting results: we have shown that environmental interactions play crucial role in the emergence of decoherence, and if the neutrino creation happens in vacuum there is no maximal coherence length. We have also shown that some of the assumptions commonly used in literature (such as the covariance of the wavepackets) are inconsistent, since the time evolution would break the Lorentz invariance; moreover we have seen that, contrary to the usual intuition, the uncertainty on the detector momentum does not always play a relevant role in decoherence, at least as long as the detector particle is non-relativistic, since its contribution is suppressed by a factor proportional to p/M. Finally, we also notice the emergence of a new quantum effect: when the first neutrinos arrive, the oscillations do not starts immediately but only a very short amount of time; however, since the time window when this effect would be observable is extremely small, the precision required to measure such an effect is most likely well beyond the current technical capabilities

International Workshop on Neutrinos from Accelerators (NuFact)•Mar 31, 2022•0 citations
We consider neutrino oscillations as a nonstationary phenomenon based on the Schrödinger evolution equation and mixed neutrino states with definite flavor. We demonstrate that for such states, invariance under translations in time does not take place. We show that the time-energy uncertainty relation plays a crucial role in neutrino oscillations. We compare neutrino oscillations with K 0 ⇆ -K 0, B 0 ⇆ B 0 , and other oscillations.
Neutrino oscillations is a phenomenon which is characterized by a finite oscillation time (length). For such phenomena time-energy uncertainty relation is valid. This means that energy uncertainty is needed for oscillations to occur. We consider neutrino oscillations from this point of view. We demonstrate that for mixed neutrino states, which describe flavor neutrinos nue\\nu_{e}nue​, numu\\nu_{\\mu}numu​ and nutau\\nu_{\\tau}nutau​, translational invariance does not take place.
Neutrino oscillations is a phenomenon which is characterized by a finite oscillation time (length). For such phenomena time-energy uncertainty relation is valid. This means that energy uncertainty is needed for oscillations to occur. We consider neutrino oscillations from this point of view. We demonstrate that for mixed neutrino states, which describe flavor neutrinos νeν_{e}νe​, νμν_μνμ​ and ντν_τντ​, translational invariance does not take place.
The time–energy uncertainty relation (TEUR) plays a fundamental role in quantum mechanics, as it allows the grasping of peculiar aspects of a variety of phenomena based on very general principles and symmetries of the theory. Using the Mandelstam–Tamm method, TEUR has recently been derived for neutrino oscillations by connecting the uncertainty in neutrino energy with the characteristic timescale of oscillations. Interestingly, the suggested interpretation of neutrinos as unstable-like particles has proved to naturally emerge in this context. Further aspects were later discussed in semiclassical gravity theory, by computing corrections to the neutrino energy uncertainty in a generic stationary curved spacetime, and in quantum field theory, where the clock observable turns out to be identified with the non-conserved flavor charge operator. In the present work, we give an overview on the above achievements. In particular, we analyze the implications of TEUR and explore the impact of gravitational and non-relativistic effects on the standard condition for neutrino oscillations.
We discuss the role of finite time and energy uncertainty in the quantum field theory description of neutrino oscillations. In order to to achieve this goal, we review the flavor Fock-space approach and the time-energy uncertainty relation in the Mandelstam--Tamm form, expressed as a flavor-energy uncertainty relation. Such relation, together with the inequivalence of mass and flavor neutrinos Fock spaces, puts a lower bound on neutrino energy uncertainty. Similar considerations can be derived by a perturbative computation of flavor transitions, which employs the Dirac picture to compute flavor transition probability. Remarkably, both flavor Fock space and interaction picture approach lead to the same oscillation probability, within the approximation adopted in the perturbative calculation.
In the context of quantum field theory, we derive flavor-energy uncertainty relations for neutrino oscillations. By identifying the nonconserved flavor charges with the ``clock observables,'' we arrive at the Mandelstam-Tamm version of time-energy uncertainty relations. In the ultrarelativistic limit, these relations yield the well-known condition for neutrino oscillations. Ensuing nonrelativistic corrections to the latter are explicitly evaluated. The analogy among flavor states and unstable particles and a novel interpretation of our uncertainty relations, based on the unitary inequivalence of Fock spaces for flavor and massive neutrinos, are also discussed.
Quantum decoherence in neutrino oscillations was theorized almost 50 years ago, however there is still no clear theoretical understanding of this phenomenon, not even agreement on whether or not it could be observed at all. Treating all particles, including the source and detector, consistently in QFT, we are working on a model where the decoherence emerges from the time evolution of the initial state. We started by studying some simplified cases, obtaining nonetheless interesting results: we have shown that environmental interactions play crucial role in the emergence of decoherence, and if the neutrino creation happens in vacuum there is no maximal coherence length. We have also shown that some of the assumptions commonly used in literature (such as the covariance of the wavepackets) are inconsistent, since the time evolution would break the Lorentz invariance; moreover we have seen that, contrary to the usual intuition, the uncertainty on the detector momentum does not always play a relevant role in decoherence, at least as long as the detector particle is non-relativistic, since its contribution is suppressed by a factor proportional to p/M. Finally, we also notice the emergence of a new quantum effect: when the first neutrinos arrive, the oscillations do not starts immediately but only a very short amount of time; however, since the time window when this effect would be observable is extremely small, the precision required to measure such an effect is most likely well beyond the current technical capabilities