A Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance at the $\hat{I}”m^2\sim$ 1 ${\mathrm{eV}}^2$ Scale

Abstract

The MiniBooNE Collaboration reports initial results from a search for $\bar{\hat{I}}{½}_{\hat{I}}¼\to \bar{\hat{I}}{½}_e$ oscillations. A signal-blind analysis was performed using a data sample corresponding to $3.39\times 10^{20}$ protons on target. The data are consistent with background prediction across the full range of neutrino energy reconstructed assuming quasielastic scattering, $200<E_{\hat{I}}{½}^{QE}<3000$ MeV: 144 electron-like events have been observed in this energy range, compared to an expectation of $139.2\pm 17.6$ events. No significant excess of events has been observed, both at low energy, 200-475 MeV, and at high energy, 475-1250 MeV. The data are inconclusive with respect to antineutrino oscillations suggested by data from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

5 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables