Search for active-sterile neutrino mixing using neutral-current interactions in NOvA

(The NOvA Collaboration)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report results from the first search for sterile neutrinos mixing with active neutrinos through a reduction in the rate of neutral-current interactions over a baseline of 810 km between the NOvA detectors. Analyzing a 14-kton detector equivalent exposure of 6.05×1020 protons-on-target in the NuMI beam at Fermilab, we observe 95 neutral-current candidates at the Far Detector compared with 83.5±9.7(stat)±9.4(syst) events predicted assuming mixing only occurs between active neutrino species. No evidence for νμ→νs transitions is found. Interpreting these results within a 3+1 model, we place constraints on the mixing angles θ24<20.8° and θ34<31.2° at the 90% C.L. for 0.05 eV2≤Δm412≤0.5 eV2, the range of mass splittings that produce no significant oscillations over the Near Detector baseline.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number072006
JournalPhysical Review D
Volume96
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 30 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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