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Title: Sterile Neutrino Search with MicroBooNE’s Electron Neutrino Disappearance Data

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters

A sterile neutrino is a well motivated minimal new physics model that leaves an imprint in neutrino oscillations. Over the last two decades, a number of hints pointing to a sterile neutrino have emerged, many of which are pointing near m4 ~ 1 eV. Here we show how MicroBooNE data can be used to search for electron neutrino disappearance using each of their four analysis channels. We find a hint for oscillations with the highest single channel significance of 2.4σ (using the Feldman Cousins approach) coming from the Wire-Cell analysis and a simplified treatment of the experimental systematics. The preferred parameters are sin2(2θ14) = $$0.35^{+0.19}_{-0.16}$$ and $$Δm^{2}_{41}$$ = $$1.25^{+0.74}_{-0.39}$$ eV2. This region of parameter space is in good agreement with existing hints from source experiments, is at a similar frequency but higher mixing than indicated by reactor anti-neutrinos, and is at the edge of the region allowed by solar neutrino data. Existing unanalyzed data from MicroBooNE could increase the sensitivity to the > 3σ level.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1879260
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1880766
Report Number(s):
BNL-223246-2022-JAAM; PRLTAO; 061801
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Vol. 129 Journal Issue: 6; ISSN 0031-9007
Publisher:
American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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ПЕРВОЕ НАБЛЮДЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТА ОСЦИЛЛЯЦИЙ В ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТЕ НЕЙТРИНО-4 ПО ПОИСКУ СТЕРИЛЬНОГО НЕЙТРИНО
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