Status of neutrino oscillations 2018: first hint for normal mass ordering and improved CP sensitivity

TL;DR

This paper provides an updated global analysis of neutrino oscillation data, revealing first hints favoring the normal mass ordering and strong CP violation indications, based on new experimental results from multiple neutrino experiments.

Contribution

It presents the first combined global fit showing a >3σ preference for the normal neutrino mass ordering using recent diverse experimental data.

Findings

Preference for atmospheric angle in upper octant

Strong CP phase range preference in [π, 2π]

Hints favoring normal mass ordering over inverted at >3σ

Abstract

We present a new global fit of neutrino oscillation parameters within the simplest three-neutrino picture, including new data which appeared since our previous analysis~\cite{Forero:2014bxa}. In this update we include new long-baseline neutrino data involving the antineutrino channel in T2K, as well as new data in the neutrino channel, data from NO$\nu$A, as well as new reactor data, such as the Daya Bay 1230 days electron antineutrino disappearance spectrum data and the 1500 live days prompt spectrum from RENO, as well as new Double Chooz data. We also include atmospheric neutrino data from the IceCube DeepCore and ANTARES neutrino telescopes and from Super-Kamiokande. Finally, we also update our solar oscillation analysis by including the 2055-day day/night spectrum from the fourth phase of the Super-Kamiokande experiment. With the new data we find a preference for the atmospheric angle in the upper octant for both neutrino mass orderings, with maximal mixing allowed at $\Delta\chi^2 = 1.6 \, (3.2)$ for normal (inverted) ordering. We also obtain a strong preference for values of the CP phase $\delta$ in the range $[\pi,2\pi]$, excluding values close to $\pi/2$ at more than 4$\sigma$. More remarkably, our global analysis shows for the first time hints in favour of the normal mass ordering over the inverted one at more than 3$\sigma$. We discuss in detail the origin of the mass ordering, CP violation and octant sensitivities, analyzing the interplay among the different neutrino data samples.