Testing Lorentz invariance with neutrino bursts from supernova neutronization
Quantum-gravity (QG) effects might generate Lorentz invariance violation by the interaction of energetic particles with the foamy structure of the space-time. As a consequence, particles may not travel at the universal speed of light. We propose to constrain Lorentz invariance violation for energetic neutrinos exploiting the $\nu_e$ neutronization burst from the next galactic supernova (SN). This prompt signal is expected to produce a sharp peak in the SN $\nu_e$ light curve with a duration of $\sim 25$ ms. However presence of energy-dependent Lorentz invariance violation would significantly spread out the time structure of this signal. We find that the detection the SN $\nu_e$ burst from a typical galactic explosion at $d=10$ kpc in a Mton-class water Cerenkov detector, would be sensitive to a quantum-gravity mass scale $M_{\rm QG} \sim 10^{12}$ GeV ($2 \times10^{5}$ GeV) for the linear (quadratic) energy dependence of Lorentz invariance violation. These limits are rather independent of the neutrino mass hierarchy and whether the neutrino velocity is super or subluminal.

title: Constraining scalar singlet dark matter with CDMS, XENON and DAMA and prediction for direct detection rates
abstract: We consider a simplest extension of the Standard Model (SM) through the incorporation of a real scalar singlet and an additional discrete Z2 symmetry. The model admits the neutral scalar singlet to be stable and thus, a viable component of dark matter. We explore the parameter space of the model keeping in view the constraints arise from different dark matter direct detection experiments through WIMP -nucleon scattering. First of all, we have utilised the data obtained from CDMS, XENON-10 and XENON-100 collaborations. We further constraint the parameter space from the DAMA collaboration results (both with and without channelling) and CoGeNT collaboration results. Throughout our analysis, the constraint arises due to the observed relic density of dark matter reported by WMAP experiment, is also incorporated. Utilising all those constraints, on the model parameter space, we calculate the event rates and the annual variation of event rates in the context of a Liquid Argon Detector experiment.

title: Upper limit on the cosmic gamma-ray burst rate from high energy diffuse neutrino background
abstract: We derive upper limits on the ratio f{sub GRB/CCSN}(z){identical_to}R{sub GRB}(z)/R{sub CCSN}(z){identical_to}f{sub GRB/CCSN}(0)(1+z){sup {alpha}}, the ratio of the rate, R{sub GRB}, of long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) to the rate, R{sub CCSN}, of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) in the Universe (z being the cosmological redshift and {), by using the upper limit on the diffuse TeV-PeV neutrino background given by the AMANDA-II experiment in the South Pole, under the assumption that GRBs are sources of TeV-PeV neutrinos produced from decay of charged pions produced in p{gamma} interaction of protons accelerated to ultrahigh energies at internal shocks within GRB jets. For the assumed ''concordance model'' of cosmic star formation rate, R{sub SF}, with R{sub CCSN}(z){proportional_to}R{sub SF}(z), our conservative upper limits are f{sub GRB/CCSN}(0){ =}1, already more restrictive than) the current upper limit on this ratio inferred from other astronomical considerations, thus providing a useful independent probe of and constraint on the CCSN-GRB connection. Nondetection of a diffuse TeV-PeV neutrino background by the upcoming IceCube detector in the South Pole after three years of operation, for example, will bring down the upper limit on f{sub GRB/CCSN}(0)more » to below a few x10{sup -5} level, while a detection will confirm the hypothesis of proton acceleration to ultrahigh energies in GRBs and will potentially also yield the true rate of occurrence of these events in the Universe.« less

title: Optimised sensitivity to leptonic CP violation from spectral information: the LBNO case at 2300 km baseline
abstract: One of the main goals of the Long Baseline Neutrino Observatory (LBNO) is to study the $L/E$ behaviour (spectral information) of the electron neutrino and antineutrino appearance probabilities, in order to determine the unknown CP-violation phase $\delta_{CP}$ and discover CP-violation in the leptonic sector. The result is based on the measurement of the appearance probabilities in a broad range of energies, covering t he 1st and 2nd oscillation maxima, at a very long baseline of 2300 km. The sensitivity of the experiment can be maximised by optimising the energy spectra of the neutrino and anti-neutrino fluxes. Such an optimisation requires exploring an extended range of parameters describing in details the geometries and properties of the primary protons, hadron target and focusing elements in the neutrino beam line. In this paper we present a numerical solution that leads to an optimised energy spectra and study its impact on the sensitivity of LBNO to discover leptonic CP violation. In the optimised flux both 1st and 2nd oscillation maxima play an important role in the CP sensitivity. The studies also show that this configuration is less sensitive to systematic errors (e.g. on the total event rates) than an experiment which mainly relies on the neutrino-antineutrino asymmetry at the 1st maximum to determine the existence of CP-violation.

title: Stringent constraint on neutrino Lorentz-invariance violation from the two IceCube PeV neutrinos
abstract: LAPTh,  As a consequence, particles may not travel at the universal speed of light. Inparticular, superluminal extragalactic neutrinos would rapidly lose energy via the bremssthralung ofelectron-positron pairs (ν → ν e

title: Stability analysis of collective neutrino oscillations in the supernova accretion phase with realistic energy and angle distributions
abstract: We revisit our previous results on the matter suppression of self-induced neutrino flavor conversions during a supernova (SN) accretion phase, performing a linearized stability analysis of the neutrino equations of motion, in the presence of realistic SN density profiles. In our previous numerical study, we used a simplified model based on an isotropic neutrino emission with a single typical energy. Here, we take into account realistic neutrino energy and angle distributions. We find that multi-energy effects have a sub-leading impact in the flavor stability of the SN neutrino fluxes with respect to our previous single-energy results. Conversely, realistic forward-peaked neutrino angular distributions would enhance the matter suppression of the self-induced oscillations with respect to an isotropic neutrino emission. As a result, in our models for iron-core SNe, collective flavor conversions have a negligible impact on the characterization of the observable neutrino signal during the accretion phase. Instead, for a low-mass O-Ne-Mg core SN model, with lower matter density profile and less forward-peaked angular distributions, collective conversions are possible also at early times.

title: INHOMOGENEOUS COSMOLOGICAL MODEL IN LYRA GEOMETRY
abstract: Exact solutions are obtained for an inhomogeneous cosmological model in normal gauge for Lyra's geometry. Some properties of the model have also been discussed.

title: Higgs boson mass, neutrino masses and mixing and keV dark matter in an U(1)R − lepton number model
abstract: A bstractWe discuss neutrino masses and mixing in the framework of a supersymmetric model with an U(1)R symmetry, consisting of a single right handed neutrino superfield with an appropriate R charge. The lepton number (L) of the standard model fermions are identified with the negative of their R-charges. As a result, a subset of leptonic R-parity violating operators can be present and are consistent with the U(1)R symmetry. This model can produce one light Dirac neutrino mass at the tree level without the need of introducing a very small neutrino Yukawa coupling. We analyze the scalar sector of this model in detail paying special attention to the mass of the lightest Higgs boson. One of the sneutrinos might acquire a substantial vacuum expectation value leading to interesting phenomenological consequences. Different sum rules involving the physical scalar masses are obtained and we show that the lightest Higgs boson mass receives a contribution proportional to the square of the neutrino Yukawa coupling f. This allows for a 125 GeV Higgs boson at the tree level for f ~ $ \mathcal{O}(1) $ and still having a small tree level mass for the active neutrino. In order to fit the experimental results involving neutrino masses and mixing angles we introduce a small breaking of U(1)R symmetry, in the context of anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking. In the presence of this small R-symmetry breaking, light neutrino masses receive contributions at the one-loop level involving the R-parity violating interactions. We also identify the right handed neutrino as a warm dark matter candidate in our model. In the case of R-symmetry breaking, the large f case is characterized by a few hundred MeV lightest neutralino as an unstable lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and we brieflydiscuss the cosmological implications of such a scenario.

title: GRAVITY AND YANG-MILLS THEORY: TWO FACES OF THE SAME THEORY?
abstract: We introduce a gauge and diffeomorphism invariant theory on the Yang-Mills phase space. The theory is well defined for an arbitrary gauge group with an invariant bilinear form, it contains only first class constraints, and the spacetime metric has a simple form in terms of the phase space variables. With gauge group SO(3, C), the theory equals the Ashtekar formulation of gravity with a cosmological constant. For Lorentzian signature, the theory is complex, and we have not found any good reality conditions. In the Euclidean signature case, everything is real. In a weak field expansion around de Sitter spacetime, the theory is shown to give the conventional Yang-Mills theory to the lowest order in the fields. We show that the coupling to a Higgs scalar is straightforward, while the naive spinor coupling does not work. We have not found any way of including spinors that gives a closed constraint algebra. For gauge group U(2), we find a static and spherically symmetric solution.

title: Letter: A Study of Asymptotic Behavior of Homogeneous Cosmological Models with a Varying Cosmological Constant in Einstein-Cartan Theory: Cosmic No-Hair Theorem
abstract: We have investigated cosmic no-hair theorem with varying cosmological constant Λ in homogeneous anisotropic Bianchi-models for Einstein-Cartan theory. We have taken the variation of Λ to be as the square of the extrinsic curvature scalar and asymptotic behavior has been studied.

title: 7 keV sterile neutrino dark matter in U(1)R-lepton number model
abstract: A bstractWe study the phenomenology of a keV sterile neutrino in a supersymmetric model with U(1)R-lepton number in the light of a very recent observation of an X-ray line signal at around 3.5 keV, detected in the X-ray spectra of Andromeda galaxy and various galaxy clusters including the Perseus galaxy cluster. This model not only provides a small tree level mass to one of the active neutrinos but also renders a suitable warm dark matter candidate in the form of a sterile neutrino with negligible active-sterile mixing. Light neutrino masses and mixing can be explained once one-loop radiative corrections are taken into account. The scalar sector of this model can accommodate a Higgs boson with a mass of ∼125 GeV. In this model gravitino is the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP) and we also study the cosmological implications of this light gravitino with mass ∼OGeV$$ \sim \mathcal{O}\left(\mathrm{GeV}\right) $$.