Inferred 4.4 eV Upper Limits on the Muon- and Tau-Neutrino Masses

Abstract

By combining experimental constraints from atmospheric and solar neutrino oscillations and the tritium beta decay endpoint, we infer upper limits of 4.4 eV on the $ν_μ$ and $ν_τ$ masses, if the universe consists of three neutrinos. For hierarchical mass spectra $m_3 \gg m_1, m_2$ or $m_3 \simeq m_2 \gg m_1$ we infer that $m_{ν_α} \lsim 0.08$ eV for $α= e, μ, τ$. In a four neutrino universe, and assuming neutrino oscillations also account for the LSND experimental results, $m_{ν_α} \lsim 5.4$ eV. We also obtain lower limits on the masses.