Experimental investigation of the thriving mystery of sterile neutrinos

Abstract

Several “anomalies” have been reported from a variety of experiments studying neutrino oscillations over short baselines (less than 1 km) since 1998. Even though not fully compatible with each other, these results could possibly hint at the existence of at least one additional “sterile” neutrino state beyond the Standard Model picture of Particle Physics.

In recent years significant contributions to the search for sterile neutrinos have led to a narrowing of the region of the parameter space where all experimental results can be accommodated. However, the persistence of unexplained tensions together with the groundbreaking impact of the possible discovery of sterile neutrinos call for a conclusive experiment.