Neutrino mass: peeping beyond the standard model

Abstract

Evidence in support of a nonzero neutrino mass, through the phenomenon of oscillations, is steadily becoming more compelling. A pedagogic introduction to vacuum neutrino oscillations and resonant flavour conversion is presented in this paper, prefaced by a thumbnail sketch of the relevant properties of the neutrino as embodied in the Standard Model of particle physics. The recent results from solar and atmospheric neutrinos are summarised and their combined implications on neutrino properties are outlined. Some attempts to incorporate a nonzero neutrino mass in extensions of the Standard Model are briefly discussed.