arXiv subjects

A. Palazzo

Publications and source records attributed to A. Palazzo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Global analysis of three-flavor neutrino masses and mixings

We present a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of a vast amount of data from neutrino flavor oscillation and non-oscillation searches, performed within the standard scenario with three massive and mixed neutrinos, and with particular attention to subleading effects. The detailed results discussed in this review represent a state-of-the-art, accurate and up-to-date (as of August 2005) estimate of the three-neutrino mass-mixing parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Neutrino mass and mixing parameters: A short review

We present a brief review of the current status of neutrino mass and mixing parameters, based on a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of neutrino oscillation and non-oscillation searches, within the standard three-neutrino mixing framework.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

KamLAND neutrino spectra in energy and time: Indications for reactor power variations and constraints on the georeactor

The Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector (KamLAND) is sensitive to the neutrino event spectrum from (mainly Japanese) nuclear reactors in both the energy domain and the time domain. While the energy spectrum of KamLAND events allows the determination of the neutrino oscillation parameters, the time spectrum can be used to monitor known and unknown neutrino sources. By using available monthly-binned data on event-by-event energies in KamLAND and on reactor powers in Japan, we perform a likelihood analysis of the neutrino event spectra in energy and time, and find significant indications in favor of time variations of the known reactor sources, as compared with the hypothetical case of constant reactor neutrino flux. We also find that the KamLAND data place interesting upper limits on the power of a speculative nuclear reactor operating in the Earth's core (the so-called georeactor); such limits are strengthened by including solar neutrino constraints on the neutrino mass and mixing parameters. Our results corroborate the standard interpretation of the KamLAND signal as due to oscillating neutrinos from known reactor sources.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Constraints on the Sum of Neutrino Masses from Cosmology and their impact on world neutrino data

We derive upper limits on the sum of neutrino masses from an updated combination of data from Cosmic Microwave Background experiments and Galaxy Redshifts Surveys. The results are discussed in the context of three-flavor neutrino mixing and compared with neutrino oscillation data, with upper limits on the effective neutrino mass in Tritium beta decay from the Mainz and Troitsk experiments and with the claimed lower bound on the effective Majorana neutrino mass in neutrinoless double beta decay from the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Observables sensitive to absolute neutrino masses: Constraints and correlations from world neutrino data

In the context of three-flavor neutrino mixing, we present a thorough study of the phenomenological constraints applicable to three observables sensitive to absolute neutrino masses: The effective neutrino mass in Tritium beta decay (m_beta); the effective Majorana neutrino mass in neutrinoless double beta decay (m_2beta); and the sum of neutrino masses in cosmology (Sigma). We discuss the correlations among these variables which arise from the combination of all the available neutrino oscillation data, in both normal and inverse neutrino mass hierarchy. We set upper limits on m_beta by combining updated results from the Mainz and Troitsk experiments. We also consider the latest results on m_2beta from the Heidelberg-Moscow experiment, both with and without the lower bound claimed by such experiment. We derive upper limits on Sigma from an updated combination of data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite and the 2 degrees Fields (2dF) Galaxy Redshifts Survey, with and without Lyman-alpha forest data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), in models with a non-zero running of the spectral index of primordial inflationary perturbations. The results are discussed in terms of two-dimensional projections of the globally allowed region in the (m_beta,m_2beta,Sigma) parameter space, which neatly show the relative impact of each data set. In particular, the (in)compatibility between Sigma and m_2beta constraints is highlighted for various combinations of data. We also briefly discuss how future neutrino data (both oscillatory and non-oscillatory) can further probe the currently allowed regions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Geoneutrino Analysis in KamLAND: Input and Desiderata

The Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector (KamLAND) is collecting antineutrino events generated by nuclear reactors and by Thorium and Uranium decay in the Earth interior. We comment on a systematic approach to the evaluation of the geo-neutrino contribution and of its uncertainties in KamLAND, taking into account geophysical and geochemical indications, estimates, and data. The results can help to improve both the neutrino oscillation analysis and the knowledge of the Earth interior. Input and desiderata for future geoneutrino analyses are identified.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Unbinned test of time-dependent signals in real-time neutrino oscillation experiments

Real-time neutrino oscillation experiments such as Super-Kamiokande (SK), the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), the Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector (KamLAND), and Borexino, can detect time variations of the neutrino signal, provided that the statistics is sufficiently high. We quantify this statement by means of a simple unbinned test, whose sensitivity depends on the variance of the signal in the time domain, as well as on the total number of signal and background events. The test allows a unified discussion of the statistical uncertainties affecting current or future measurements of eccentricity-induced variations and of day-night asymmetries (in SK, SNO, and Borexino), as well as of reactor power variations (in KamLAND).

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Neutrino Oscillations: A Global Analysis

We review the status of the neutrino oscillation physics (as of June 2003), with a particular emphasis on the present knowledge of the neutrino mass-mixing parameters in a three generation approach. We consider first the nu_mu-->nu_tau flavor transitions of atmospheric neutrinos. It is found that standard oscillations provide the best description of the SK+K2K data, and that the associated mass-mixing parameters are determined at 1 sigma (and dof=1) as: Delta m^2=(2.6 +-0.4) x 10^-3 eV^2 and sin^2(2theta)=1.00+0.00-0.05. Such indications, presently dominated by SK, could be strengthened by further K2K data. Then we analyze the energy spectrum of reactor neutrino events recently observed at KamLAND and combine them with solar and terrestrial neutrino data. We find that the solution to the solar neutrino problem at large mixing angle (LMA) is basically split into two sub-regions, that we denote as LMA-I and LMA-II. The LMA-I solution, characterized by lower values of the squared neutrino mass gap, is favored by the global data fit. Finally, we briefly illustrate how prospective data from the SNO and KamLAND can increase our confidence in the occurrence of standard matter effects in the Sun, which are starting to emerge from current data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Addendum to: Solar neutrino oscillation parameters after first KamLAND results

In a previous paper [1], we presented a three-flavour oscillation analysis of the solar neutrino measurements and of the first data from the KamLAND experiment, in terms of the relevant mass-mixing parameters (delta m^2, theta_12, theta_13). The analysis, performed by including the terrestrial neutrino constraints coming from the CHOOZ (reactor), KEK-to-Kamioka (K2K, accelerator) and Super-Kamiokande (SK, atmospheric) experiments, provided a stringent upper limit on theta_13, namely, sin^2(theta_13)<0.05 at 3 sigma. We reexamine such upper bound in the light of a recent (although preliminary) reanalysis of atmospheric neutrino data performed by the SK collaboration, which seems to shift the preferred value of the largest neutrino square mass difference Delta m^2 downwards. By taking the results of the SK official reanalysis at face value, and by repeating the analysis in [1] with such a new input, we find that the upper bound on theta_{13} is somewhat relaxed: sin^2(theta_13)<0.067 at 3 sigma. Related phenomenological issues are briefly discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Solar neutrino oscillations and indications of matter effects in the Sun

Assuming the current best-fit solutions to the solar neutrino problem at large mixing angle, we briefly illustrate how prospective data from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) and from the Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector (KamLAND) can increase our confidence in the occurrence of standard matter effects on active neutrino flavor oscillations in the Sun, which are starting to emerge from current data.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2003

Solar neutrino oscillation parameters after first KamLAND results

We analyze the energy spectrum of reactor neutrino events recently observed in the Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector (KamLAND) and combine them with solar and terrestrial neutrino data, in the context of two- and three-family active neutrino oscillations. In the 2-neutrino case, we find that the solution to the solar neutrino problem at large mixing angle (LMA) is basically split into two sub-regions, that we denote as LMA-I and LMA-II. The LMA-I solution, characterized by lower values of the squared neutrino mass gap, is favored by the global data fit. This picture is not significantly modified in the 3-neutrino mixing case. A brief discussion is given about the discrimination of the LMA-I and LMA-II solutions with future KamLAND data. In both the 2- and 3-neutrino cases, we present a detailed analysis of the post-KamLAND bounds on the oscillation parameters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Three-flavor solar neutrino oscillations with terrestrial neutrino constraints

We present an updated analysis of the current solar neutrino data in terms of three-flavor oscillations, including the additional constraints coming from terrestrial neutrino oscillation searches at the CHOOZ (reactor), Super-Kamiokande (atmospheric), and KEK-to-Kamioka (accelerator) experiments. The best fit is reached for the subcase of two-family mixing, and the additional admixture with the third neutrino is severely limited. We discuss the relevant features of the globally allowed regions in the oscillation parameter space, as well as their impact on the amplitude of possible CP-violation effects at future accelerator experiments and on the reconstruction accuracy of the mass-mixing oscillation parameters at the KamLAND reactor experiment.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Getting the most from the statistical analysis of solar neutrino oscillations

(Abridged.) We present a thorough analysis of the current solar neutrino data, in the context of two-flavor active neutrino oscillations. We aim at performing an accurate and exhaustive statistical treatment of both the input and the output information. Concerning the input, we analyze 81 observables, including the Cl rate, the total Ga rate and its winter-summer difference, the 44 spectrum bins from SK and the 34 spectrum bins from SNO. We carefully evaluate and propagate the effects of 31 correlated systematic uncertainties, including 12 SSM input errors, the 8B neutrino energy spectrum uncertainty, as well as 11 and 7 systematics in SK and SNO, respectively. Concerning the output, we express the chi-squared analysis results in terms of ``pulls,'' embedding the single contributions to the total chi-squared. It is shown that the pull method, as compared to the (numerically equivalent) covariance matrix approach, is not only simpler and more advantageous, but also includes useful indications about the preferred variations of the neutrino fluxes with respect to their SSM predictions. Our results confirm the current best-fit solution (LMA), but also allow, with acceptable statistical significance, other solutions in the low-mass (LOW) or in the quasi-vacuum oscillation (QVO) regime, while the small mixing angle (SMA) solution could be recovered only by ad hoc ``recalibrations'' of several SSM and experimental systematics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Addendum to: Model-dependent and -independent implications of the first Sudbury Neutrino Observatory results

In the light of recent experimental and theoretical improvements, we review our previous model-independent comparison [hep-ph/0106247] of the Super-Kamiokande (SK) and Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) solar neutrino event rates, including updated values for the ``equalized'' SK datum and for the reference Standard Solar Model (SSM) B neutrino flux. We find that the joint SK+SNO evidence for active neutrino flavor transitions is confirmed at the level of 3.3 standard deviations, independently of possible transitions to sterile states. Barring sterile neutrinos, we estimate the 3-sigma range for the $^8$B neutrino flux (normalized to SSM) as f_B=0.96 +0.54-0.55. Accordingly, the 3-sigma range for the energy-averaged nu_e survival probability is found to be = 0.31 +0.55-0.16, independently of the functional form of P_ee. An increase of the reference nu_e + d --> p + p + e cross section by ~3%, as suggested by recent theoretical calculations, would slightly shift the central values of f_B and of to ~1.00 and ~0.29, respectively, and would strengthen the model-independent evidence for nu_e transitions into active states at the level of ~3.6 sigma.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Quasi-energy-independent solar neutrino transitions

Current solar, atmospheric, and reactor neutrino data still allow oscillation scenarios where the squared mass differences are all close to 10^-3 eV^2, rather than being hierarchically separated. For solar neutrinos, this situation (realized in the upper part of the so-called large-mixing angle solution) implies adiabatic transitions which depend weakly on the neutrino energy and on the matter density, as well as on the ``atmospheric'' squared mass difference. In such a regime of ``quasi-energy-independent'' (QEI) transitions, intermediate between the more familiar ``Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein'' (MSW) and energy-independent (EI) regimes, we first perform analytical calculations of the solar nu_e survival probability at first order in the matter density, beyond the usual hierarchical approximations. We then provide accurate, generalized expressions for the solar neutrino mixing angles in matter, which reduce to those valid in the MSW, QEI and EI regimes in appropriate limits. Finally, a representative QEI scenario is discussed in some detail.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2002

Phenomenology of Neutrino Oscillations

We review the status of several phenomenological topics of current interest in neutrino oscillations: (i) Solar neutrino oscillations after the first Sudbury Neutrino Observatory measurements, including both model-independent and model-dependent results; (ii) Dominant nu_mu-->nu_tau oscillations of atmospheric and K2K neutrinos, and possible subdominant oscillations induced by either extra states or extra interactions; and (iii) Four-neutrino scenarios embedding the controversial LSND evidence for oscillations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Supernova neutrino oscillations: A simple analytical approach

Analyses of observable supernova neutrino oscillation effects require the calculation of the electron (anti)neutrino survival probability P_ee along a given supernova matter density profile. We propose a simple analytical prescription for P_ee, based on a double-exponential form for the crossing probability and on the concept of maximum violation of adiabaticity. In the case of two-flavor transitions, the prescription is shown to reproduce accurately, in the whole neutrino oscillation parameter space, the results of exact numerical calculations for generic (realistic or power-law) profiles. The analytical approach is then generalized to cover three-flavor transitions with (direct or inverse) mass spectrum hierarchy, and to incorporate Earth matter effects. Compact analytical expressions, explicitly showing the symmetry properties of P_ee, are provided for practical calculations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Model-dependent and independent implications of the first Sudbury Neutrino Observatory results

We briefly discuss some implications of the first solar νresults from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) experiment in the charged-current channel. We first show that the present SNO response function is very similar to the Super-Kamiokande (SK) one above 8.6 MeV in kinetic electron energy. On the basis of such equivalence we confirm, in a completely model-independent way, the SNO evidence for an active, non-electron neutrino component in the SK event sample, with a significance greater than 3 sigma. Then, by assuming no oscillations into sterile neutrinos, we combine the SK+SNO data to derive allowed regions for two free parameters: (i) the ratio f_B of the true B νflux from the Sun to the corresponding value predicted by the standard solar model (SSM), and (ii) the ν_e survival probability , averaged over the common SK and SNO response function. We obtain the separate 3sigma ranges: f_B=1.03^{+0.50}_{-0.58} (in agreement with the SSM central value, f_B=1) and =0.34^{+0.61}_{-0.18} (in >3sigma disagreement with the standard electroweak model prediction, =1, with strong anticorrelation between the two parameters. Finally, by taking f_B and its uncertainties as predicted by the SSM, we perform an updated analysis of the $2ν$ active neutrino oscillation parameters (δm^2,\tan^2ω) including all the solar νdata, as well as the spectral data from the CHOOZ reactor experiment. We find that only the solutions at \tan^2ω~O(1) survive at the 3sigma level in the global fit, with a preference for the one at high δm^2---the so-called large mixing angle solution.

hep-ph↗