Abstract
We present results from global fits to the available reactor antineutrino dataset, as of Fall 2019, to determine the global preference for a fourth, sterile neutrino. We have separately considered experiments that measure the integrated inverse-beta decay (IBD) rate from those that measure the energy spectrum of IBD events at one or more locations. The evidence that we infer from rate measurements varies between ≲ 3σ and negligible depending on the reactor antineutrino flux model employed. Moreover, we find that spectral ratios ostensibly imply ≳ 3σ evidence, consistent with previous work, though these measurements are known to be plagued by issues related to statistical interpretation; these results should therefore be viewed cautiously. The software used is the newly developed GLoBESfit tool set which is based on the publicly available GLoBES framework and will be released as open-source software.
Highlights
Nuclear reactors have been workhorses for neutrino physics since its inception as an experimental science by Cowan and Reines [1]
In appendix A, we provide an account of how oscillations involving a sterile neutrino have been included in GLoBES, and in appendix B, we provide a general overview of the files that constitute GLoBESfit, including their content and some aspects of their functionality
Additional data releases are expected in the near future for both experiments,10 as well as the SoLid experiment [72]; we look forward to including all of these in future versions of GLoBESfit
Summary
Nuclear reactors have been workhorses for neutrino physics since its inception as an experimental science by Cowan and Reines [1]. Albeit speculative, explanation would be provided by oscillations into a sterile neutrino with ∆m2 1 eV2 This hypothesis has triggered significant interest [10], resulting in a number of new reactor neutrino experiments aimed at finding an actual oscillation signature. The interpretation of reactor neutrino data in terms of sterile neutrino oscillations is relatively straightforward and free of major tension, even when combined with other available electron neutrino disappearance data; see, e.g., refs. Given the significant ongoing experimental effort in reactor neutrino experiments, combined with the potential for a major discovery of new physics, we will discuss in detail the existing reactor antineutrino data. We provide extensive data tables and supplemental figures in appendix C; these data are important for our analyses, but would have been intrusive to have included in the main text
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