An Active-Sterile Neutrino Transformation Solution for r-Process Nucleosynthesis

We discuss how matter-enhanced active-sterile neutrino transformation in the νe ⇀↽ νs and ν̄e ⇀↽ ν̄s channels could enable the production of the rapid neutron capture (r-process) nuclei in neutrino-heated supernova ejecta. In this scheme the lightest sterile neutrino would be heavier than the νe and split from it by a vacuum mass-squared difference of 3 eV <∼ δmes <∼ 70 eV with vacuum mixing angle sin 2θes > 10 . 14.60.Pq, 14.60.St, 26.30.+k, 97.60.Bw Typeset using REVTEX Current Address: TRIUMF, 4004 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T2A3. Electronic address: [email protected] Current Address: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Electronic address: [email protected] Permanent Address: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706. Electronic address: [email protected] Permanent address: Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093-0319. Electronic address: [email protected].