We present the measurement of two event samples induced by atmospheric v(mu) of average energy (E) over bar(v) similar to 4 GeV. In the first sample, a neutrino interacts inside the MACRO detector producing an upward-going muon leaving the apparatus. The ratio of the number of observed to expected events is 0.57 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) +/- 0.14(theor) with an angular distribution similar to that expected from the Bartol atmospheric neutrino flux. The second is a mixed sample of internally produced downward-going muons and externally produced upward-going muons stopping inside the detector. These two subsamples are selected by topological criteria; the lack of timing information makes it impossible to distinguish stopping from downgoing muons. The ratio of the number of observed to expected events is 0.71 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.07(syst) +/- 0.18(theor). The observed deficits in each subsample is in agreement with neutrino oscillations, although the significance is reduced by the large theoretical errors. However, the ratio of the two samples causes a large cancellation of theoretical and of some systematic errors. With the ratio, we rule out the no-oscillation hypothesis at 95% c.l. Furthermore, the ratio tests the pathlength dependence of possible oscillations. The data of both samples and their ratio favor maximal mixing and Delta m(2) similar to 10(-3)-10(-2) eV(2). These parameters are in agreement with our results from upward throughgoing muons, induced by v(mu) of much higher energies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Autori interni: | |
Autori: | Ambrosio, M; Antolini, R; Auriemma, G; Bakari, D; Baldini, A; Barbarino, Gc; Barish, Bc; Battistoni, G; Bellotti, R; Bemporad, C; Bernardini, P; Bilokon, H; Bisi, V; Bloise, C; Bower, C; Brigida, M; Bussino, S; Cafagna, F; Calicchio, M; Campana, D; Carboni, M; Cecchini, S; Cei, Fabrizio; Chiarella, V; Choudhary, Bc; Coutu, S; De Cataldo, G; Dekhissi, H; De Marzo, C; De Mitri, I; Derkaoui, J; De Vincenzi, M; Di Credico, A; Erriquez, O; Favuzzi, C; Forti, C; Fusco, P; Giacomelli, G; Giannini, G; Giglietto, N; Giorgini, M; Grassi, M; Gray, L; Grillo, A; Guarino, F; Gustavino, C; Habig, A; Hanson, K; Heinz, R; Iarocci, E; Katsavounidis, E; Katsavounidis, I; Kearns, E; Kim, H; Kyriazopoulou, S; Lamanna, E; Lane, C; Levin, Ds; Lipari, P; Longley, Np; Longo, Mj; Loparco, F; Maaroufi, F; Mancarella, G; Mandrioli, G; Margiotta, A; Marini, A; Martello, D; Marzari Chiesa, A; Mazziotta, Mn; Michael, Dg; Mikheyev, S; Miller, L; Monacelli, P; Montaruli, T; Monteno, M; Mufson, S; Musser, J; Nicolo', Donato; Nolty, R; Orth, C; Osteria, G; Ouchrif, M; Palamara, O; Patera, V; Patrizii, L; Pazzi, R; Peck, Cw; Perrone, L; Petrera, S; Pistilli, P; Popa, V; Raino, A; Reynoldson, J; Ronga, F; Satriano, C; Satta, L; Scapparone, E; Scholberg, K; Sciubba, A; Serra, P; Sioli, M; Sirri, G; Sitta, M; Spinelli, P; Spinetti, M; Spurio, M; Steinberg, R; Stone, Jl; Sulak, Lr; Surdo, A; Tarle, G; Togo, V; Vakili, M; Vilela, E; Walter, Cw; Webb, R. |
Titolo: | Low energy atmospheric muon neutrinos in MACRO |
Anno del prodotto: | 2000 |
Abstract: | We present the measurement of two event samples induced by atmospheric v(mu) of average energy (E) over bar(v) similar to 4 GeV. In the first sample, a neutrino interacts inside the MACRO detector producing an upward-going muon leaving the apparatus. The ratio of the number of observed to expected events is 0.57 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) +/- 0.14(theor) with an angular distribution similar to that expected from the Bartol atmospheric neutrino flux. The second is a mixed sample of internally produced downward-going muons and externally produced upward-going muons stopping inside the detector. These two subsamples are selected by topological criteria; the lack of timing information makes it impossible to distinguish stopping from downgoing muons. The ratio of the number of observed to expected events is 0.71 +/- 0.05(stat) +/- 0.07(syst) +/- 0.18(theor). The observed deficits in each subsample is in agreement with neutrino oscillations, although the significance is reduced by the large theoretical errors. However, the ratio of the two samples causes a large cancellation of theoretical and of some systematic errors. With the ratio, we rule out the no-oscillation hypothesis at 95% c.l. Furthermore, the ratio tests the pathlength dependence of possible oscillations. The data of both samples and their ratio favor maximal mixing and Delta m(2) similar to 10(-3)-10(-2) eV(2). These parameters are in agreement with our results from upward throughgoing muons, induced by v(mu) of much higher energies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1016/S0370-2693(00)00267-7 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |
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