INVISIBLE AXIONS AND LIGHT NEUTRINOS—ARE THEY CONNECTED?

Abstract

Physical arguments involving the solar neutrino problem are given which connect the scale of U (1)PQ breakdown with that of the spontaneous breakdown of lepton number. In the simplest model, the Majoron transmutes itself into the invisible axion as a soft symmetry breaking parameter is turned on. Some consequences of this idea are discussed. These include a suggestion that the origin of the baryon symmetry of the Universe is connected with an induced lepton number asymmetry produced at temperatures of order VPQ and the possibility that νμ→ντ oscillations may be observable at accelerators.