Leptogenesis

Abstract

Leptogenesis is a class of scenarios where the baryon asymmetry of the Universe is produced from a lepton asymmetry generated in the decays of a heavy sterile neutrino. We explain the motivation for leptogenesis. We review the basic mechanism, and describe subclasses of models. We then focus on recent developments in the understanding of leptogenesis: finite temperature effects, spectator processes, and in particular the significance of flavor physics.

Comments: 111 pages, 8 figures. Added Sect. 3 on anomalous B+L violation. Corrected equations (6.30) and (6.31). Added Sect. 9.1 with a simple example of the effects of flavours. Revised Sect. 10.1 on susy leptogenesis. Added several references, and other minor improvements. To be published in Physics Reports