19 Jul 1999 | M. Apollonio, A. Baldini, C. Bemporad, E. Caffau, F. Cei, Y. Déclais, H. de Kerret, B. Dieterle, A. Etenko, J. George, G. Giannini, M. Grassi, Y. Kozlov, W. Kropp, D. Kryn, M. Laiman, C.E. Lane, B. Lefèvre, I. Machulin, A. Martemyanov, V. Martemyanov, L. Mikaelyan, D. Nicolò, M. Obolensky, R. Pazzi, G. Pieri, L. Price, S. Riley, R. Reeder, A. Sabelnikov, G. Santini, M. Skorokhvatov, H. Sobel, J. Steele, R. Steinberg, S. Sukhotin, S. Tomshaw, D. Veron, and V. Vydrov
The CHOOZ experiment presents new results based on the entire data sample, refining the understanding of systematic effects and increasing statistical power. The main result is the absence of evidence for neutrino oscillations in the $\bar{\nu}_e$ disappearance mode, with a confidence level of 90%. This is found for the parameter region where $\delta m^2 > 7 \cdot 10^{-4}$ eV$^2$ and $\sin^2 2\theta = 0.10$. Lower sensitivity results, independent of the absolute normalization of the $\bar{\nu}_e$ flux, cross section, number of target protons, and detector efficiencies, are also presented, showing a sensitivity of $\delta m^2 \gtrsim 2 \cdot 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$. The exclusion plots in the $(\delta m^2, \sin^2 2\theta)$ plane are derived using three methods: Analysis "A" uses all available information, Analysis "B" compares the ratio of positron spectra from two different-distance reactors, and Analysis "C" focuses on the shape of the predicted positron spectrum. The results are consistent with the atmospheric neutrino anomaly region. The experiment's improvements include better calibration methods, stability checks, and a more precise evaluation of systematic errors. The detector's stability and the nature of neutrino candidates are thoroughly analyzed, and the positron spectrum is compared with expected oscillated and non-oscillated spectra. The experiment's findings provide strong constraints on neutrino oscillation parameters, with implications for the understanding of neutrino mass and mixing.The CHOOZ experiment presents new results based on the entire data sample, refining the understanding of systematic effects and increasing statistical power. The main result is the absence of evidence for neutrino oscillations in the $\bar{\nu}_e$ disappearance mode, with a confidence level of 90%. This is found for the parameter region where $\delta m^2 > 7 \cdot 10^{-4}$ eV$^2$ and $\sin^2 2\theta = 0.10$. Lower sensitivity results, independent of the absolute normalization of the $\bar{\nu}_e$ flux, cross section, number of target protons, and detector efficiencies, are also presented, showing a sensitivity of $\delta m^2 \gtrsim 2 \cdot 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$. The exclusion plots in the $(\delta m^2, \sin^2 2\theta)$ plane are derived using three methods: Analysis "A" uses all available information, Analysis "B" compares the ratio of positron spectra from two different-distance reactors, and Analysis "C" focuses on the shape of the predicted positron spectrum. The results are consistent with the atmospheric neutrino anomaly region. The experiment's improvements include better calibration methods, stability checks, and a more precise evaluation of systematic errors. The detector's stability and the nature of neutrino candidates are thoroughly analyzed, and the positron spectrum is compared with expected oscillated and non-oscillated spectra. The experiment's findings provide strong constraints on neutrino oscillation parameters, with implications for the understanding of neutrino mass and mixing.