Neutrino oscillations, global analysis and theta(13)

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent hints and combined data analyses suggesting a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle theta(13), discussing implications and future tests in neutrino oscillation research.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of current oscillation data indicating a potential nonzero theta(13) and discusses future experimental prospects.

Findings

Preferred sin^2 theta(13) = 0.02 ± 0.01 (1σ)

Hints from multiple experiments support nonzero theta(13)

Discussion on future improvements and tests

Abstract

At the previous Venice meeting NO-VE 2008, we discussed possible hints in favor of a nonzero value for the unknown neutrino mixing angle theta(13), emerging from the combination of solar and long-baseline reactor data, as well as from the combination of atmospheric, CHOOZ and long-baseline accelerator nu_mu->nu_mu data. Recent MINOS 2009 results in the nu_mu->nu_e appearance channel also seem to support such hints. A combination of all current oscillation data provides, as preferred range, sin^2 theta(13) = 0.02 +- 0.01 (1\sigma). We review several issues raised by such hints in the last year, and comment on their possible near-future improvements and tests.