Neutrino Oscillations as an Open Quantum System

Abstract

This work studies neutrino oscillations and how matter effects and environmental interactions influence neutrino detection. A semirealistic model of the Earth was implemented using four concentric layers of constant density based on the PREM profile, allowing simulation of atmospheric neutrino propagation with matter induced effects. Initial results in the standard three flavor framework justified neglecting the electron neutrino, motivating a simplified 2+1 model including muon, tau, and a hypothetical sterile neutrino. The impact of decoherence on neutrino evolution was then analyzed by incorporating dissipative terms into the Lindblad master equation. The results show a disappearance of muon neutrinos in specific regions of the oscillogram, driven by Earth matter effects at intermediate energies and stronger interferences at higher energies due to decoherence. These findings highlight how decoherence and sterile states could leave measurable imprints on future oscillation experiments.