Sterile Neutrino Fits to Short Baseline Data

Abstract

Neutrino oscillation models involving extra mass eigenstates beyond the standard three (3+N) are fit to global short baseline experimental data. We find that 3+1 has a best fit of Delta m^2_41 = 1.75 eV^2 with a Delta chi^2 [null-min] (dof) of 52.34 (3). The 3+2 fit has a Delta chi^2 [null-min] (dof) of 56.99 (7). Bayesian credible intervals are shown for the first time for a 3+1 model. These are found to be in agreement with frequentist intervals. The results of these new fits favor a higher Delta m^2 value than previous studies, which may have an impact on future sterile neutrino searches such as the Fermilab SBN program.

17 pages. This paper has been edited to remove results from the IceCube IC86 fits. The authors have withdrawn the IceCube IC86 fits section pending official release of the IceCube IC86 data