The LSND and MiniBooNE Oscillation Searches at High [Delta]m[superscript 2]

Abstract

This article reviews the experimental design, analysis, and results of the LSND and MiniBooNE experiments. Their primary goal was to effect sensitive searches for neutrino oscillations in the mass region with Δm[superscript 2]≈1 eV[superscript 2]. The two experiments are complementary, so comparing their results can yield additional information with respect to models with sterile neutrinos. Both experiments obtained evidence for [over-bar]νμ→[over-bar]νe oscillations, and MiniBooNE also observed a νμ→νe excess. We also consider the results within the global context of sterile neutrino oscillation models. The final data sets require a more extended model than the simple single–sterile neutrino model imagined at the time that LSND drew to a close and MiniBooNE began. There are apparent incompatibilities between data sets in models with two sterile neutrinos that may be explained with variations within the systematic error. Overall, models with two (or three) sterile neutrinos seem to succeed in fitting the global data, and they make interesting predictions for future experiments.