Further Evidence for Threefold Maximal Lepton Mixing and a Hierarchical Spectrum of Neutrino Mass-Squared Differences

Abstract

The phenomenological case for threefold maximal lepton mixing is strengthened by more detailed comparison with existing data. The atmospheric neutrino data are self-consistent and in good agreement with the threefold maximal mixing prediction R = 2/3 (chi-squared/dof = 4.3/5, CL = 51%). Including partially con- tained event data, the zenith angle dependence also points to threefold maximal mixing, ruling-out a range of mixing schemes, including that of Fritzsch and Xing. Accounting for `de facto' uncertainties in solar neutrino fluxes, the solar neutrino data (including HOMESTAKE) are shown to be consistent with threefold maximal mixing (chi-squared/dof = 5.1/3, CL = 16%), as is the upper limit from the LSND appearance experiment. Detailed pred- ictions for forthcoming long-base-line reactor and accelerator experiments are presented.