# Quark mixing vs neutrino mixing, mass eigenstates, weak states and detection

I have some doubts regarding the CKM matrix in the quark sector and PMNS matrix in the leptonic sector. Let us call $(d^\prime, s^\prime, b^\prime)$ the weak basis for quarks and $(d,s,b)$ the mass basis in the quark sector. In the leptonic sector $\nu_e,\nu_\mu,\nu_\tau$ are the weak basis ans $\nu_1,\nu_2,\nu_3$ represent the mass basis.

1. All the weak processes involving quarks are written in terms of the mass basis. For example, $$d\rightarrow u,\hspace{0.5cm} d\rightarrow s$$ etc. But in the leptonic sector the weak processes involving neutrinos are written in terms of weak basis. Why is this difference? Does it mean the physical particles in the quark sector are the mass eigenstates and those in the leptonic sector are the weak states? Isn't it strange?

2. What about the crucial matter of production and detection of neutrinos and quarks? It is said that neutrinos are produced in one of the weak states and I presume they are also detected as weak state. But what happens in the quark sector? Processes like $d\rightarrow u$ or $d\rightarrow s$ seems to imply that quarks are produced in mass eigenstates.

3. If there is the phenomenon of oscillation of neutrino weak states, from $\nu_e\rightarrow \nu_\mu$ (say, for example), why is there no such oscillation observed in the quark sector form $d^\prime\rightarrow s^\prime$?

• 1. "But in the leptonic sector the weak processes involving neutrinos are written in terms of weak basis." - What, exactly, do you mean by this? Perhaps give an example/reference? 2. Why do you think there is a single type of state they are produced in? When you write $d\to u$, you're interested in the amplitude of the process where a $d$ mass state turns into a $u$ mass state, but you could as well examine the amplitude for producing another non-mass state, it's quantum mechanics after all. Oct 9 '15 at 13:11
• Have a look at the answers on a similar question here physics.stackexchange.com/q/22151 Oct 10 '15 at 4:22
• Related 76804. Apr 29 '17 at 13:26

3) in principle hadronic states can oscillate, $K-\bar{K}$ and $B-\bar{B}$ oscillations have been studied in great detail. Also, interference effects in weak decays certainly exist. There are some difficulties, however, with observing''$d-s$'' oscillations: i) Quarks are confined, so the actual oscillation would have to be $\pi-K$. ii) But pions and kaons are (typically) produced as strong (mass) eigenstates. iii) The mass difference is quite large, and the oscillation length would be very short. iv) Kaons are unstable (not necessarily a problem, they live sufficiently long to observe kaon-anti-kaon oscillations).