Search for time-independent Lorentz violation using muon neutrino to muon antineutrino transitions in MINOS

TL;DR

This study used MINOS data to search for Lorentz violation via muon neutrino-antineutrino mixing, setting the first limits on certain SME parameters and improving constraints on others, with no evidence of such transitions.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental limits on specific SME coefficients related to Lorentz violation in neutrino oscillations, using MINOS data.

Findings

No evidence for muon neutrino-antineutrino transitions.

Set the first limits on $(c_{L})^{TT}_{ au au}$ and $(c_{L})^{TT}_{ au au}$.

Established the world's best limits on $ ilde{g}^{ZT}_{ auar{ au}}$ and $ ilde{g}^{ZT}_{ auar{ au}}$.

Abstract

Data from the MINOS experiment has been used to search for mixing between muon neutrinos and muon antineutrinos using a time-independent Lorentz-violating formalism derived from the Standard-Model Extension (SME). MINOS is uniquely capable of searching for muon neutrino-antineutrino mixing given its long baseline and ability to distinguish between neutrinos and antineutrinos on an event-by-event basis. Neutrino and antineutrino interactions were observed in the MINOS Near and Far Detectors from an exposure of 10.56$\times10^{20}$ protons-on-target from the NuMI neutrino-optimized beam. No evidence was found for such transitions and new, highly stringent limits were placed on the SME coefficients governing them. We place the first limits on the SME parameters $(c_{L})^{TT}_{\mu\mu} $ and $(c_{L})^{TT}_{\tau\tau}$ at $-8.4\times10^{-23} < (c_{L})^{TT}_{\mu\mu} < 8.0\times10^{-23}$ and $-8.0\times10^{-23} < (c_{L})^{TT}_{\tau\tau} < 8.4\times10^{-23}$, and the world's best limits on the $\tilde{g}^{ZT}_{\mu\overline{\mu}}$ and $\tilde{g}^{ZT}_{\tau\overline{\tau}}$ parameters at $|\tilde{g}^{ZT}_{\mu\overline{\mu}}| < 3.3\times 10^{-23}$ and $|\tilde{g}^{ZT}_{\tau\overline{\tau}}| < 3.3\times 10^{-23}$, all limits quoted at $3\sigma$.