We describe a general formalism for computing scattering rates of weak probes in macroscopic systems, based on a density matrix formalism. We show that weak probes in general scatter off fluctuations in the medium. In the limit that the neutrino wavelength is much larger than the lengthscale of the fluctuations, we show that the scattering rate can be calculated from knowledge of the equation of state of the medium through which the neutrinos travel. Using radial profiles of a post-bounce, shocked supernova core and a well-established equation of state for nuclear matter we compute these scattering rates for various times in the vicinity of the shock. We find that, behind the shock, these correlative effects can enhance neutrino scattering rates by factors of 8 compared to standard calculations which ignore interactions in the nuclear medium. These results may have implications for how efficiently neutrinos can restart a stalled shock, although firm conclusions regarding the ultimate effects of such an enhancement await full hydrodynamic simulations, which are not performed here.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.31179 |
Date | January 2000 |
Creators | Aghababaie, Yashar. |
Contributors | Burgess, C. P. (advisor) |
Publisher | McGill University |
Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Format | application/pdf |
Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Physics.) |
Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
Relation | alephsysno: 001806349, proquestno: MQ70364, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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