The Search for $\nu_\mu \to \nu_e$ Oscillations at MiniBooNE

TL;DR

MiniBooNE searched for muon neutrino to electron neutrino oscillations at ~1 eV^2 but found no significant excess, challenging previous LSND indications of new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

This paper reports the first search for $ u_ o u_e$ oscillations at MiniBooNE, providing crucial experimental data to test LSND results and explore physics beyond the Standard Model.

Findings

No significant excess of $ u_e$ events was observed.

Results challenge the LSND evidence for oscillations.

Data constrains possible oscillation parameters.

Abstract

MiniBooNE (Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment) searches for the $\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$ oscillations with $\Delta m^2 \sim 1 \eV^2/c^4$ indicated by the LSND experiment. The LSND evidence, when taken with the solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations, suggests new physics beyond the Standard Model. However, this evidence has not been confirmed by other experiments. MiniBooNE has completed its first $\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$ oscillation search using a sample of $\sim 1$ GeV neutrino events obtained with $5.58\times 10^{20}$ protons delivered to the Booster Neutrino Beamline. The analysis finds no significant excess of $\nu_e$ events in the analysis region of 475-3000 MeV.