Probing neutrino mass hierarchy by comparing the charged-current and neutral-current interaction rates of supernova neutrinos

Abstract

The neutrino mass hierarchy is one of the neutrino fundamental properties yet to be determined. We introduce a method to determine neutrino mass hierarchy by comparing the interaction rate of neutral current (NC) interactions, nu((nu) over bar)+p -> v((v) over bar) +p, and inverse beta decays (IBD), (nu) over bar (e)+p -> n + e(+), of supernova neutrinos in scintillation detectors. Neutrino flavor conversions inside the supernova are sensitive to neutrino mass hierarchy. Due to Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein effects, the full swapping of (nu) over bar (e) flux with the (nu) over bar (x)(x = mu, tau) one occurs in the inverted hierarchy, while such a swapping does not occur in the normal hierarchy. As a result, more high energy IBD events occur in the detector for the inverted hierarchy than the high energy IBD events in the normal hierarchy. By comparing IBD interaction rate with the mass hierarchy independent NC interaction rate, one can determine the neutrino mass hierarchy.