Physics and astrophysics of neutrinos

This book is a textbook-format description of recent developments in neutrino physics and astrophysics, mainly based on the research carried out in Japan over the last decade. To make the outcome of recent research available to the general reader, the editors asked for contributions from their Japanese colleagues who are carrying out unique work in this field, the most typical and well-known of which is represented by the Kamiokande experiment.

The topics covered also include the electron neutrino mass experiment, the double beta decay experiment, and the neutrino oscillation experiment, especially that using an emulsion technique, and R&D studies for new solar neutrino experiments, as well as subjects concerning atmospheric neutrinos, supernova neutrinos, and very high-energy neutrinos from astronomical objects.

The aim of this book is to present a comprehensive account of this research, which cannot be found in journal papers, conference proceedings, or review articles, and to describe these subjects starting from elementary levels so that they are readily accessible to nonexperts, including graduate students. This book is also intended to serve as a handbook for researchers in the relevant fields.

A general introduction was added to introduce the state-of-art theory of neutrino physics which is the basic background behind the experimental work described in this book.