Measurement of the Atmospheric Muon Neutrinos with the MACRO Detector

TL;DR

The MACRO detector measured atmospheric muon neutrinos, finding a deficit in observed muons consistent with neutrino oscillations, supporting maximal mixing and specific mass difference parameters.

Contribution

First measurement of atmospheric muon neutrino flux with the MACRO detector showing evidence of neutrino oscillations through observed deficits.

Findings

Observed muon neutrino flux is 26% lower than expected.

Data supports maximal neutrino mixing and  m^2 of a few ^{-3} eV^2.

Deficit observed across different neutrino energy ranges.

Abstract

The flux of muons induced by atmospheric neutrinos has been measured with the MACRO detector. Different event topologies have been detected, due to neutrino interactions in the apparatus and in the rock below it. The upward-throughgoing muon sample is the larger one and is generated by neutrinos with a peak energy of ~100 GeV. The observed upward-throughgoing muons are 26 % fewer than expected and the zenith angle distribution does not fit with the expected one. Assuming \mutau neutrino oscillation, the angular shape and the normalization factor suggest maximal mixing and \Delta m^2 of a few times 10^{-3} eV^2. Also the other event categories induced by low-energy neutrinos (peak energy ~ 4 GeV) show a deficit of observed events. The value of this deficit and its uniformity with respect to the angular bins are in agreement with the oscillation parameters suggested by the analysis of the upward-throughgoing muon sample.