Neutrino magnetic moment effects in electron-capture measurements at GSI

Avraham Gal

Published 2010-04-23, updated 2010-06-02Version 2

I conjecture that the time modulated decay rates reported in single ion measurements of two body electron capture decay of hydrogen like heavy ions at GSI may be related to neutrino spin precession in the static magnetic field of the storage ring. These `GSI Oscillations' arise from interference between amplitudes of decay within and without the magnetic field, a scenario that requires a Dirac neutrino magnetic moment six times lower than the Borexino solar neutrino upper limit of 0.54 x 10E(-10) Bohr magneton. I also show in a way not discussed before that the time modulation associated with interference between massive neutrino amplitudes, if such interference could arise, is of a period at least four orders of magnitude shorter than reported and must average to zero given the time resolution of the GSI measurements.