Connecting Experiment with Theory: A Model-Independent Parameterization of Neutrino Oscillations

Abstract

Many experiments are currently looking for evidence of neutrino mass in the form of neutrino oscillations. Oscillation probabilities are non-linear functions of the neutrino mixing matrix elements, so most comparisons of data to theory are based on simplifying models of the mixing matrix. We begin this dissertation with a review of neutrino interactions and a few of the popular models describing neutrino masses and mixing. Next we present our model-independent description of neutrino oscillations and derive the predictions of various models in terms of our new ``box'' parameterization. Finally, we use our boxes to find mixing matrices consistent with existing neutrino data. As more definitive data becomes available, these solutions will probably need to be adjusted; when such a need arises, our box notation will provide a convenient method for finding new solutions.