Gravitationally induced neutrino oscillation phases in static spacetimes -art. no. 067301

We critically examine the recent claim of a "new effect'' of gravitationall y induced quantum mechanical phases in neutrino oscillations. Because this claim has generated some discussion in the literature we present here a str aightforward calculation of the phase and clarify some of the conceptual is sues involved, particularly in relation to the equivalence principle. When expressed in terms of the asymptotic energy of the neutrinos E and Schwarzs child radial coordinates r, the lowest order at which such a gravitational effect appears is (GM Delta m(4)/(H) over bar E-3)ln(r(B)/r(A)). [S0556-282 1(99)01204-7].