Abstract
We performed Monte Carlo calculations of the statistical distribution of the $\chi^2$ test statistic used in the analysis of the data of the NEOS, DANSS, Bugey-3, and PROSPECT short-baseline reactor experiments. We show that the statistical significance of the NEOS and DANSS indications in favor of active-sterile neutrino oscillations is smaller than that obtained with the usual method based on the $\chi^2$ distribution. In the combined analysis of the data of the four experiments we find that the statistical significance of active-sterile neutrino oscillations is reduced from $2.4\sigma$ to $1.8\sigma$.
Highlights
The combined analyses of the data of NEOS, DANSS, and other reactor experiments in terms of short-baseline oscillations [15,16,17,18] have been performed assuming the χ2 distribution
Active-sterile neutrino oscillations due to a nonstandard massive neutrino at the eV scale is one of the current hot topics of research that could reveal the existence of new physics beyond the Standard Model
The discovery in 2011 of the reactor antineutrino anomaly raised a great interest and triggered the realization of several new reactor experiments searching for short-baseline νe disappearance in a model-independent way, that does not depend on the theoretical prediction of the reactor νe fluxes
Summary
The combined analyses of the data of NEOS, DANSS, and other reactor experiments in terms of short-baseline oscillations [15,16,17,18] have been performed assuming the χ2 distribution. The analysis of the PROSPECT data is a useful test of our method, because the PROSPECT collaboration published the map in the (sin2 2θee; Δm241) plane of the Δχ2 corresponding to 90% and 95% C.L., that they evaluated with a Monte Carlo that takes into account all the experimental details, including the correlations of the systematic uncertainties of the binned data.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
