Measurement of Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations Using Beam and Atmospheric Data in MINOS

TL;DR

This paper reports measurements of neutrino and antineutrino oscillation parameters using beam and atmospheric data from MINOS, providing precise values and testing the assumption of identical oscillation parameters for neutrinos and antineutrinos.

Contribution

The study presents the first combined analysis of beam and atmospheric data to measure neutrino and antineutrino oscillation parameters, allowing for independent oscillation parameters for neutrinos and antineutrinos.

Findings

Measured |Δm^2| = (2.41^{+0.09}_{-0.10})×10^{-3} eV^2

Measured sin^2(2θ) = 0.950^{+0.035}_{-0.036}

Antineutrino parameters |Δar{m}^2| = (2.50^{+0.23}_{-0.25})×10^{-3} eV^2

Abstract

We report measurements of oscillation parameters from $\nu_{mu}$ and $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$ disappearance using beam and atmospheric data from MINOS. The data comprise exposures of \unit[$10.71 \times 10^{20}$]{protons on target (POT)} in the $\nu_{\mu}$-dominated beam, $\unit[3.36\times10^{20}]{POT}}$ in the $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$-enhanced beam, and 37.88 kton-years of atmospheric neutrinos. Assuming identical $\nu$ and $\bar{\nu}$ oscillation parameters, we measure \mbox{$|\Delta m^2}| = \unit[2.41^{+0.09}_{-0.10}) \times 10^{-3}]{eV^{2}}$} and $\sin^{2}/!/left(2\theta \right) = 0.950^{+0.035}_{-0.036}$. Allowing independent $\nu$ and $\bar{\nu}$ oscillations, we measure antineutrino parameters of $|\Delta \bar{m}^2| = \unit[(2.50 ^{+0.23}_{-0.25}) \times 10^{-3}]{eV^{2}}$ and $\sin^{2}/!/left(2\bar{\theta} \right) = 0.97^{+0.03}_{-0.08}$, with minimal change to the neutrino parameters.