Searching for Sterile Neutrinos at MiniBooNE
Comprehensive Exam
9:00 am –
11:00 am
Jorgensen Hall Room: 207
Contact:
Physics Department, (402) 472-2770, paoffice@unl.edu
Speaker: Joaquin E Siado Castaneda
Abstract:
In 1998 the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) reported an excess of electron antineutrino events in a muon antineutrino beam. Soon after this result was published, many papers giving an explanation were written and several experiments were proposed to prove or disprove the LSND claim. One of these experiments, Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment (MiniBooNE) at Fermilab, recently reported a similar finding. An excess of 381.2 +- 85.2 (or 4.5 sigma) electron neutrino appearance was observed in its muon neutrino beam. These results are interpreted as evidence of the existence of a new particle called the sterile neutrino. When both LSND and MiniBooNE results are combined they reach a significance of 6.0 sigma. The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics predicts the existence of only three neutrinos, hence if this particle truly exists, it would be a clear indication of physics beyond the Standard Model. This paper reviews the Standard Model description of neutrinos and explains the concept of sterile neutrinos. The MiniBooNE experiment and its results are presented as well as some experiments disputing them.
Abstract:
In 1998 the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) reported an excess of electron antineutrino events in a muon antineutrino beam. Soon after this result was published, many papers giving an explanation were written and several experiments were proposed to prove or disprove the LSND claim. One of these experiments, Mini Booster Neutrino Experiment (MiniBooNE) at Fermilab, recently reported a similar finding. An excess of 381.2 +- 85.2 (or 4.5 sigma) electron neutrino appearance was observed in its muon neutrino beam. These results are interpreted as evidence of the existence of a new particle called the sterile neutrino. When both LSND and MiniBooNE results are combined they reach a significance of 6.0 sigma. The Standard Model (SM) of particle physics predicts the existence of only three neutrinos, hence if this particle truly exists, it would be a clear indication of physics beyond the Standard Model. This paper reviews the Standard Model description of neutrinos and explains the concept of sterile neutrinos. The MiniBooNE experiment and its results are presented as well as some experiments disputing them.