Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrinos: Status of subdominant oscillations

In the context of the recent (79.5 kTy) Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrino data, we concisely review the status of muonic-tauonic flavor oscillations and of the subdominant electron or sterile neutrino mixing, in schemes with three or four families and one dominant mass scale. In the three-family case, where we include the full CHOOZ spectral data, we also show, through a specific example, that ``maximal'' violations of the one-dominant mass scale approximation are not ruled out yet.Comment: 8 pages + 10 figure

Electron-neutrino survival probability from solar-neutrino data

With SNO data on electron-neutrino flux from the sun, it is possible to derive the $\nu_e$ survival probability $P_{ee}(E)$ from existing experimental data of Super-Kamiokande, gallium experiments and Homestake. The combined data of SNO and Super-Kamiokande provide boron $\nu_e$ flux and the total flux of all active boron neutrinos, giving thus $P_{ee}(E)$ for boron neutrinos. The Homestake detector, after subtraction of the signal from boron neutrinos, gives the flux of Be+CNO neutrinos, and $P_{ee}$ for the corresponding energy interval, if the produced flux is taken from the Standard Solar Model (SSM). Gallium detectors, GALLEX, SAGE and GNO, detect additionally pp-neutrinos. The pp-flux can be calculated subtracting from the gallium signal the rate due to boron, beryllium and CNO neutrinos. The ratio of the measured $pp$-neutrino flux to that predicted by the SSM gives the survival probability for $pp$-neutrinos. Comparison with theoretical survival probabilities shows that the best (among known models) fit is given by LMA and LOW solutions.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, references adde

Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrino data, zenith distributions, and three-flavor oscillations

We present a detailed analysis of the zenith angle distributions of atmospheric neutrino events observed in the Super-Kamiokande (SK) underground experiment, assuming two-flavor and three-flavor oscillations (with one dominant mass scale) among active neutrinos. In particular, we calculate the five angular distributions associated to sub-GeV and multi-GeV \mu-like and e-like events and to upward through-going muons, for a total of 30 accurately computed observables (zenith bins). First we study how such observables vary with the oscillation parameters, and then we perform a fit to the experimental data as measured in SK for an exposure of 33 kTy (535 days). In the two-flavor mixing case, we confirm the results of the SK Collaboration analysis, namely, that \nu_\mu\nu_\tau oscillations are preferred over \nu_\mu\nu_e, and that the no oscillation case is excluded with high confidence. In the three-flavor mixing case, we perform our analysis with and without the additional constraints imposed by the CHOOZ reactor experiment. In both cases, the analysis favors a dominance of the \nu_\mu\nu_\tau channel. Without the CHOOZ constraints, the amplitudes of the subdominant \nu_\munu_e and \nu_e\nu_\tau transitions can also be relatively large, indicating that, at present, current SK data do not exclude sizable \nu_e mixing by themselves. After combining the CHOOZ and SK data, the amplitudes of the subdominant transitions are constrained to be smaller, but they can still play a nonnegligible role both in atmospheric and other neutrino oscillation searches. In particular, we find that the \nu_e appearance probability expected in long baseline experiments can reach the testable level of ~15%.Comment: 35 pages (RevTeX), including 20 ps figures (with epsfig.sty

Three-flavor solar neutrino oscillations with terrestrial neutrino constraints

We present an updated analysis of the current solar neutrino data in terms of three-flavor oscillations, including the additional constraints coming from terrestrial neutrino oscillation searches at the CHOOZ (reactor), Super-Kamiokande (atmospheric), and KEK-to-Kamioka (accelerator) experiments. The best fit is reached for the subcase of two-family mixing, and the additional admixture with the third neutrino is severely limited. We discuss the relevant features of the globally allowed regions in the oscillation parameter space, as well as their impact on the amplitude of possible CP-violation effects at future accelerator experiments and on the reconstruction accuracy of the mass-mixing oscillation parameters at the KamLAND reactor experiment.Comment: 10 pages + 8 figure

Status of atmospheric neutrino(mu)<-->neutrino(tau) oscillations and decoherence after the first K2K spectral data

We review the status of nu_mu-->nu_tau flavor transitions of atmospheric neutrinos in the 92 kton-year data sample collected in the first phase of the Super-Kamiokande (SK) experiment, in combination with the recent spectral data from the KEK-to-Kamioka (K2K) accelerator experiment (including 29 single-ring muon events). We consider a theoretical framework which embeds flavor oscillations plus hypothetical decoherence effects, and where both standard oscillations and pure decoherence represent limiting cases. It is found that standard oscillations provide the best description of the SK+K2K data, and that the associated mass-mixing parameters are determined at 1 sigma (and d.o.f.=1) as: Delta m^2=(2.6 +- 0.4)x10^{-3} eV^2 and sin^2(2theta)=1.00+0.00-0.05. As compared with standard oscillations, the case of pure decoherence is disfavored, although it cannot be ruled out yet. In the general case, additional decoherence effects in the nu_mu-->nu_tau channel do not improve the fit to the SK and K2K data, and upper bounds can be placed on the associated decoherence parameter. Such indications, presently dominated by SK, could be strengthened by further K2K data, provided that the current spectral features are confirmed with higher statistics. A detailed description of the statistical analysis of SK and K2K data is also given, using the so-called ``pull'' approach to systematic uncertainties.Comment: 18 pages (RevTeX) + 12 figures (PostScript

Quasi-energy-independent solar neutrino transitions

Current solar, atmospheric, and reactor neutrino data still allow oscillation scenarios where the squared mass differences are all close to 10^-3 eV^2, rather than being hierarchically separated. For solar neutrinos, this situation (realized in the upper part of the so-called large-mixing angle solution) implies adiabatic transitions which depend weakly on the neutrino energy and on the matter density, as well as on the ``atmospheric'' squared mass difference. In such a regime of ``quasi-energy-independent'' (QEI) transitions, intermediate between the more familiar ``Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein'' (MSW) and energy-independent (EI) regimes, we first perform analytical calculations of the solar nu_e survival probability at first order in the matter density, beyond the usual hierarchical approximations. We then provide accurate, generalized expressions for the solar neutrino mixing angles in matter, which reduce to those valid in the MSW, QEI and EI regimes in appropriate limits. Finally, a representative QEI scenario is discussed in some detail.Comment: Title changed; text and acronyms revised; results unchanged. To appear in PR

Parameters' domain in three flavour neutrino oscillations

We consider analytically the domain of the three mixing angles $\Theta_{ij}$ and the CP phase $\delta$ for three flavour neutrino oscillations both in vacuum and matter. Similarly to the quark sector, it is necessary and sufficient to let all the mixing angles $\Theta_{12},\Theta_{13},\Theta_{23}$ and $\delta$ be in the range $$ and $0 \leq \delta < 2 \pi$, respectively. To exploit the full range of $\delta$ will be important in future when more precise fits are possible, even without CP violation measurements. With the above assumption on the angles we can restrict ourselves to the natural order of masses $m_1<m_2<m_3$. Considerations of the mass schemes with some negative $\delta m^2$'s, though for some reasons useful, are not necessary from the point of view of neutrino oscillation parametrization and cause double counting only. These conclusions are independent of matter effects.Comment: references added, to appear in PL

Analysis of atmospheric neutrino oscillations in three-flavor neutrinos

We analyze the atmospheric neutrino experiments of Super-Kamiokande (830-920 live days) using the three-flavor neutrino framework with the mass hierarchy m_1 nearly equal m_2 << m_3. We study the sub-GeV, multi- GeV neutrinos and upward through-going and stopping muons zenith angle distributions taking account of the Earth matter effects thoroughly. We obtain the allowed regions of mass and mixing parameters Delm^2_{23}, theta_{13} and theta_{23}. Delm^2_{23} is restricted to 0.002-0.01eV^2 and theta_{13}<13degrees, 35degrees<theta_{23}<55degrees in 90% C.L. For theta_{12}, there is no difference between the large angle solar neutrino solution and small one. From chi^2 fit, the minimum chi^2=55(54DOF) is obtained at Delm^2_{23}=4x10^(-3)eV^2, theta_{13}=10degrees and theta_{23} =45degrees.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, LaTe

Global analysis of neutrino masses, mixings and phases: entering the era of leptonic CP violation searches

We perform a global analysis of neutrino oscillation data, including high-precision measurements of the neutrino mixing angle theta_13 at reactor experiments, which have confirmed previous indications in favor of theta_13>0. Recent data presented at the Neutrino 2012 Conference are also included. We focus on the correlations between theta_13 and the mixing angle theta_23, as well as between theta_13 and the neutrino CP-violation phase delta. We find interesting indications for theta_23< pi/4 and possible hints for delta ~ pi, with no significant difference between normal and inverted mass hierarchy.Comment: Updated version, including recent data released at the Neutrino 2012 Conference. Some references adde