Neutrino Flavor Conversion in a Supernova Core

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If νμ or ντ mix with νₑ, neutrino oscillations and collisions in a supernova (SN) core allow these flavors effectively to participate in β equilibrium and thus to obtain a large chemical potential. If a sterile species mixes with νₑ, these effects lead to an anomalous loss of energy and lepton number. We study flavor conversion in a SN core on the basis of a new kinetic equation which rigorously includes neutrino interference and degeneneracy effects. Our discussion serves as an example and illustration of the properties of this ``non-abelian Boltzmann equation''.