Accelerator, reactor, solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillation: beyond three generations

Abstract

We perform a phenomenological analysis of neutrino oscillation in a four generation framework introducing an additional sterile neutrino. In such a scenario, more than one pattern is possible that can accommodate three hieararchically different mass squared differences as required by the present experiments. We considered two different spectrums. Choosing the ${\Delta{m}}^2$s in the ranges suitable for the LSND, atmospheric and solar neutrino oscillation, limits on the mixing angles are derived, consistent with the most restrictive accelerator and reactor data as well as the atmospheric and solar neutrino results. The allowed mixing angles are found to be constrained very severely in both cases. For one mass pattern in the combined allowed zone the atmospheric anomaly can be explained by $\nu_e - \nu_{\mu}$ oscillation whereas for the other the $\nu_{\mu} - \nu_{\tau}$ channel is preferred. The accelerator experiments CHORUS and NOMAD have different sensitivities in these regions and they can distinguish between the two choices.