On the generality of the Cohen and Glashow constraints on the neutrino velocity

Abstract

We discuss the kinematic limits for the process \nu_\mu \rightarrow \nu_\mu + e^+ + e^- in the assumption that neutrinos are superluminal. We derive our results by assuming that: i) it exists one reference frame in which energy and momentum are conserved; ii) the Hamilton-Jacobi equation v=dE/dp is valid; iii) the present experimental information on the neutrino velocity at different energies are correct. We show that the considered process cannot be avoided unless very peculiar neutrino dispersion laws are assumed.

Comments: 5 pages