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Evidence for Oscillation of Atmospheric Neutrinos

Y. Fukuda et al. (Super-Kamiokande Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 1562 – Published 24 August 1998
Physics logo See Focus story: Nobel Prize—Neutrinos Oscillate
An article within the collection: Letters from the Past - A PRL Retrospective
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Abstract

We present an analysis of atmospheric neutrino data from a 33.0 kton yr (535-day) exposure of the Super-Kamiokande detector. The data exhibit a zenith angle dependent deficit of muon neutrinos which is inconsistent with expectations based on calculations of the atmospheric neutrino flux. Experimental biases and uncertainties in the prediction of neutrino fluxes and cross sections are unable to explain our observation. The data are consistent, however, with two-flavor νμντ oscillations with sin22θ>0.82 and 5×104<Δm2<6×103eV2 at 90% confidence level.

  • Received 6 July 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.1562

©1998 American Physical Society

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This article appears in the following collection:

Letters from the Past - A PRL Retrospective

2008 marked PRL’s 50th anniversary. As part of the celebrations a collection of milestone Letters was started. The collection contains Letters that have made long-lived contributions to physics, either by announcing significant discoveries, or by initiating new areas of research.

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Nobel Prize—Neutrinos Oscillate

Published 7 October 2015

The 2015 physics Nobel Prize goes to the discoverers of the strange ability of neutrinos to transform among three “flavors.”

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Neutrinos Have Mass

Robert Garisto
Phys. Rev. Focus 2, 10 (1998)

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Issue

Vol. 81, Iss. 8 — 24 August 1998

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