Estimation ofv μ→v τ oscillation parameters in the E-564 hybrid experiment

The limits on the parameters of thev _μ→v _τ oscillations are obtained in the E-564 hybrid experiment: Δm ²≦4.5 eV² and sin²(2θ)≦6.0·10^?2 (90% CL). A possibility of direct observation of τ-lepton decays in the nuclear emulsion vertex detector allowed the sensitivity of this experiment to the parameters of the oscillations to be increased.     

A study ofv e −v μ universality and search for neutrino oscillations

In the SKAT neutrino bubble chamber experiment at the Serpukhov accelerator we observe 83 events with electrons and no further lepton in the final state. Comparing the ratio of electron to muon charged current events at energies 3<E _v <30 GeV with that expected fromv _e -beam background assuming lepton universality we find \(R = (N_{e^ - } /N_{\mu ^ - } )_{\exp } /(N_{e^ - } /N_{\mu ^ - } )_{calc} = 0.98 \pm 0.15\) . Furthermore we compare experimental observations and theoretical expectations for some differential distributions of the electron-neutrino charged current reaction. No significant deviation from lepton universality is found. Looking in the charged current reaction for oscillations of muon to electron type neutrinos we find no effect down to the 90% confidence limits Δm ² =1.3 eV² at sin²2θ=1 and sin²2θ=2.5·10^?3 at Δm ²=60 eV².     

Results from the NOMAD experiment

The NOMAD experiment has sought ν_μ ? ν_τ oscillations by looking for the emergence of τ^? in events from the CERN SPS neutrino beam. With some improvements in the techniques of analysis in relation to the results published previously and with the inclusion of data from the 1998 run, no evidence for the oscillations has been found, which results in an updated limit on the oscillation probability [P(ν_μ → ν_τ) < 0.5 × 10^?3 at a 90% C.L.]. The corresponding limit on the oscillation mixing angle is given by sin²2θ_μτ < 1.0 × 10^?3 for large Δm ². By using a 1% contamination of ν_e in the neutrino beam, we can also rule out ν _e ? ν_τ oscillations and constrain the probability of the relevant transition as P(ν _e → ν_τ) < 3 × 10^?2 at a 90% C.L. (sin²2θ _eτ < 6 × 10^?2 at large Δm ²).     

Futurev τ oscillation experiments and present data

Our goal in this paper is to examine the discovery covery potential of laboratory experiments searching for the oscillationv _μ(ν _e)→v _τ, in the light of recent data on solar and atmospheric neutrino experiments, which we analyse together with the most restrictive results from laboratory experiments on neutrino oscillations. In order to explain simultaneouslyall present results we use a four-neutrino framework, with an additional sterile neutrino. Our predictions are rather pessimistic for the upcoming experiments NOMAD and CHORUS, which, we find, are able to explore only a small area of the oscillation parameter space. On the other hand, the discovery potential of future experiments is much larger. We consider three examples. E803, which is approved to operate in the future Fermilab main injector beam line, MINOS, a proposed long-baseline experiment also using the Fermilab beam, and NAUSICAA, an improved detector which improves by an order of magnitude the performance of CHORUS/NOMAD and can be operated either at CERN or at Fermilab beams. We find that those experiments can cover a very substantial fraction of the oscillation parameter space, having thus a very good chance of discoveringboth v _μ→v _τ andν _e→v _τ oscillation modes.     

Matter effects for solar neutrino oscillations

Possible solar neutrino oscillations are reviewed in the two-neutrino case taking into account the effect of coherent forward scattering when neutrinos travel through the sun and earth. As recently pointed out by Mikheyev and Smirnov this effect can induce a large suppression of the solar ν_e flux for values of Δm ² around 10^?4–10^?8 eV² even for small values of the mixing angle. It also may cause substantial modifications of the solar neutrino spectrum shape. All this may be used for determining Δm ² and sin² 2θ in a large domain from the experimental results of the chlorine, gallium, indium and heavy water detectors.     

Seasonal and energy dependence of solar neutrino vacuum oscillations

We make a global vacuum neutrino oscillation analysis of solar neutrino data, including the seasonal and energy dependence of the recent Super-Kamiokande 708-day results. The best fit parameters for ν_e oscillations to an active neutrino are δm²=4.42×10⁻¹⁰ eV², sin²2θ=0.93. The allowed mixing angle region is consistent with bi-maximal mixing of three neutrinos. Oscillations to a sterile neutrino are disfavored. Allowing an enhanced hep neutrino flux does not significantly alter the oscillation parameters.     

Limits on neutrino oscillations derived from the ratio of neutral- to charged-current cross sections of neutrinos measured at the CERN SPS NBB

We present an analysis, in terms of neutrino oscillations, of the recent measurements of the ratio R of neutral-current to charged-current neutrino cross sections performed by the CDHS and CHARM Collaborations at the CERN Super Proton Synchroton narrow-band beam. The measurementswere aimed at the determination of sin² θ_w. Our analysis is based on the observation that muon-neutrino oscillations would decrease the number of interactions with a muon in the final state. The effect of oscillations on R can be studied, comparing the actual measurements with the value of R predicted by an independent measurement of sin² θ_w. Limits on ν_μ−ν_e, ν_μ−ν_τ, and ν_μ−ν_x oscillations are presented. They refer to a region of high mass squared difference of the two oscillating neutrinos (Δm² > 3 eV²). For high Δm² the limits on the mixing angle θ are very restrictive. In particular, for the transition ν_μ−ν_x (x≠e, τ) they represent the best available results for large intervals in Δm².     

Two-detector reactor neutrino oscillation experiment Kr2Det at Krasnoyarsk: Status report

We consider the status of the Kr2Det project aimed at sensitive searches for neutrino oscillations in the atmospheric neutrino mass parameter region around Δm² ～ 3×10^?3 eV² and at obtaining new information on the electron neutrino mass structure (U_e3).     

Update on the search for μ→ e oscillations by the 2 experiment

The neutrino experiment sets the most stringent exclusion limits for _μ→ _e oscillations. Analyzing the data set recorded from Feb.1997 up to March 2000 with the upgraded experimental configuration, the search of _e appearance via the p( _e, e⁺)n reaction yields no hints for neutrino oscillations. Applying a likelihood method to the measured event sample of 11 events (background expectation 12.3 events), we deduce an upper limit of sin² (2Θ) < 1.3 · 10⁻³ for large Δm² > 100 eV² and Δm² < 0.049 eV² for sin² (2Θ)=1.     

Experimental results on neutrino-electron scattering

A determination of sin² θ _w based on measurements of elastic scattering of muon-neutrinos and muon-anti-neutrinos on atomic electrons is described. These purely leptonic processes were studied using the CHARM calorimeter exposed to neutrino and antineutrino wide-band beams at the CERN super proton synchrotron. A total of 83±16 neutrino-electron and 112±21 antineutrino-electron events have been detected. From the measurement of the ratio of muon-neutrino and muon-antineutrino cross-sections a value of sin² θ _w =0.211±0.037 was obtained.     

Final results on the search for νμ→νe oscillations in the NOMAD experiment

The results of the search for ν _μ →ν _e oscillations in the NOMAD experiment at CERN are presented. The experiment looked for the appearance of ν _e in a predominantly ν _μ wideband neutrino beam at the CERN SPS. No evidence for oscillations was found. The 90% confidence limits obtained are Δm ²<0.4 eV² for maximal mixing and sin²(2θ)<1.4×10⁻³ for large Δm ². This result excludes the LSND allowed region of oscillation parameters with Δm ²≳10 eV². From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 67, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1967–1972. Original English Text Copyright ? 2004 by Popov. This article was submitted by the author in English. The author represents the NOMAD Collaboration     

Experimental study of neutral-current and charged-current neutrino cross sections

Samples of 9200 muon-neutrino and 3800 muon-antineutrino interactions on nuclei were obtained with the fine-grain calorimeter of the CHARM Collaboration at the CERN 200 GeV narrow-band neutrino beam. The interactions were classified as either neutral-current or charged-current processes on an event-by-event basis. Neutral-current and charged-current cross sections in neutrino and antineutrino interactions are presented. From these results we deduce a statistically significant contribution of right-handed coupling to the neutral hadronic current, and a value of the electroweak mixing angle corresponding to sin²θ = 0.220 ± 0.014.     

The mixing angles in matter for three generations of neutrinos and the MSW mechanism

Mikheyev and Smirnov have recently shown that oscillations between two species of neutrinos may be amplified in matter. We give analytic expressions for the energy eigenvalues, all the mixing angles and the CP-violating phase in matter for three generations of neutrinos using the Fritzsch parametrization for the flavor mixing matrix. For clearly separated neutrino masses Δm ₃₁ ² ?Δm ₂₁ ² we find two MSW resonance effects—one forv _e ?v _µ and one forv _e ?v _τ conversions —which can each be approximated by a separate two neutrino treatment as has been recently shown by Kuo and Pantaleone. Nearly degenerate neutrino masses Δm ₃₁ ² ～Δm ₂₁ ² on the other hand lead to only one resonance region withs _{1 2} ^{m 2} no longer necessarily approaching 1 for very high densities.     

Reactor neutrinos—present and future

The main characteristics of experimental searches for neutrino oscillations at nuclear reactors are reviewed. We then describe the Chooz and Palo Verde experiments and report their results to date. We also describe the KamLAND experiment, presently under construction in the Kamioka laboratory in Japan, which is designed to extend the sensitivity to ν_e ? ν_X oscillations by two orders of magnitude in Δm ². In particular, this experiment expects to be able to carry out a terrestial test of the large-angle MSW solution to the solar neutrino problem.     

Futurev �� oscillation experiments and present data

Our goal in this paper is to examine the discovery covery potential of laboratory experiments searching for the oscillationv _??(?? _e)??v _??, in the light of recent data on solar and atmospheric neutrino experiments, which we analyse together with the most restrictive results from laboratory experiments on neutrino oscillations. In order to explain simultaneouslyall present results we use a four-neutrino framework, with an additional sterile neutrino. Our predictions are rather pessimistic for the upcoming experiments NOMAD and CHORUS, which, we find, are able to explore only a small area of the oscillation parameter space. On the other hand, the discovery potential of future experiments is much larger. We consider three examples. E803, which is approved to operate in the future Fermilab main injector beam line, MINOS, a proposed long-baseline experiment also using the Fermilab beam, and NAUSICAA, an improved detector which improves by an order of magnitude the performance of CHORUS/NOMAD and can be operated either at CERN or at Fermilab beams. We find that those experiments can cover a very substantial fraction of the oscillation parameter space, having thus a very good chance of discoveringboth v _????v _?? and?? _e??v _?? oscillation modes.     

Neutrino physics at the turn of the millennium

I discuss the implications of the latest data on solar and atmospheric neutrinos which strongly indicate the need for physics beyond the Standard Model. I review the theoretical options for reconciling these data in terms of three-neutrino oscillations. Even though not implied by the data, bimaximal models of neutrino mixing emerge as an attractive possibility. Supersymmetry with broken R-parity provides a predictive way to incorporate it, opening the possibility of testing neutrino anomalies at high-energy collider experiments such as the LHC or at the upcoming long-baseline or neutrino factory experiments. Reconciling, in addition, the hint provided by the LSND experiment requires a fourth, light sterile, neutrino. The simplest theoretical scenarios are the most symmetric ones, in which two of the four neutrinos are maximally mixed and lie at the LSND scale, while the others are at the solar mass scale. The lightness of the sterile neutrino, the nearly maximal atmospheric neutrino mixing, and the generation of Δm _⊙ ² &; Δm _atm ² all follow naturally from the assumed lepton-number symmetry and its breaking. These two basic schemes can be distinguished at neutral-current-sensitive solar &; atmospheric neutrino experiments such as the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. However, underground experiments have not yet proven neutrino masses, since there is a variety of alternative mechanisms. For example, flavor changing interactions can play an important role in the explanation of solar and of contained atmospheric data and could be tested through effects such as μ → e+γ, μ-e conversion in nuclei, unaccompanied by neutrino-less double beta decay. Conversely, the room is still open for heavy unstable neutrinos. A short-lived ν_μ might play a role in the explanation of the atmospheric data. Finally, in the presence of a sterile neutrino v_s, a long-lived ν_τ in the MeV range could delay the time at which the matter and radiation contributions to the energy density of the Universe become equal, reducing the density fluctuations on the smaller scales and rescuing the standard cold-dark-matter scenario for structure formation. In this case, the light v_e ν_μ, and v_s would account for the solar and atmospheric data.     

New MACRO results on atmospheric neutrino oscillations

The final results of the MACRO experiment on atmospheric neutrino oscillations are presented and discussed. The data concern different event topologies with average neutrino energies of ～3 and ～50 GeV. Multiple Coulomb scattering of the high-energy muons in absorbers was used to estimate the neutrino energy of each event. The angular distributions, the L/E_ν distribution, the particle ratios, and the absolute fluxes all favor ν_π?ν_τ oscillations with maximal mixing and Δm²=0.0023 eV². A discussion is made on the Monte Carlos used for the atmospheric neutrino flux. Some results on neutrino astrophysics are also briefly discussed.     

The Palo Verde reactor neutrino experiment a test for long baseline neutrino oscillations

Our collaboration has installed a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. 12 tons of Gd loaded liquid scintillator, in a segmented detector, are used to search for oscillations at 740 m distance to three reactors. The anti-neutrino capture on the proton serves as detection reaction. The experiment is expected to reach a sensitivity of Δm² > 1.3 · 10⁻³ eV² and sin²2Θ > 0.1. Our range of sensitivity is tuned to test the ν_μ ↔ ν_e solution of the atmospheric neutrino anomaly.     

A simple modification of the maximal mixing scenario for three light neutrinos

We suggest a simple modification of the maximal mixing scenario (withS ₃ permutation symmetry) for three light neutrinos. Our neutrino mass matrix has smaller permutation symmetryS ₂(ν _μ ?ν _e ), and is consistent with all neutrino experiments except the³⁷Cl experiment. The resulting mass eigenvalues for three neutrinos arem ₁≈(2.55?1.27)×10^?3eV,m _2,3≈(0.71?1.43)eV for Δm _LSND ² =0.5?2.0eV². Then these light neutrinos can account for ～(2.4?4.8)% (6.2?12.4%) of the dark matter forh=0.8 (0.5). Our model predicts theν _μ →ν _τ oscillation probability in the range sensitive to the future experiments such as CHORUS and NOMAD.     

Double Chooz project: Status of a reactor experiment aimed at searches for neutrino oscillations

Double Chooz is an experiment that is devoted to searches for reactor-antineutrino oscillations at the CHOOZ nuclear power plant. This project is aimed at measuring the unknown mixing angle θ ₁₃. It is assumed that the value of θ ₁₃ will be extracted from an analysis of the distortion of the antineutrino spectra obtained in relative measurements at two distances from the nuclear reactors by means of two identical detectors. The method makes it possible to minimize systematic errors of the experiment and to improve the sensitivity to the sought parameter. To date, the most stringent constraint on the parameter θ ₁₃ was obtained from the CHOOZ experiment in 1995–1997 [sin²(2θ ₁₃) < 0.19, with the difference of the squares of the neutrino masses being Δm ₁₃ ² = 2.5 × 10^?3 eV²].