Neutrino Propagation in Dense Astrophysical Systems

Even the elusive neutrinos are trapped in matter, albeit transiently, in several astrophysical circumstances. Their interactions with the ambient matter not only reveal the properties of such exotic matter itself, but also shed light on the fundamental properties of the neutrinos themselves. The physical sites of interest include the early universe, supernovae, and newly-born neutron stars. Detection of neutrinos from these vastly different eras using the new generation of neutrino detectors holds great promise for enhancing our understanding of neutrino-matter interactions and astrophysical phenomena.