A Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance at the Δm² 1 eV² Scale

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The MiniBooNE Collaboration reports initial results from a search for νμ→νₑ oscillations. A signal-blind analysis was performed using a data sample corresponding to 3.39 × 10²⁰ protons on target. The data are consistent with background prediction across the full range of neutrino energy reconstructed assuming quasielastic scattering, 200 < EνQE < 3000 MeV: 144 electron-like events have been observed in this energy range, compared to an expectation of 139.2 ± 17.6 events. No significant excess of events has been observed, both at low energy, 200-475 MeV, and at high energy, 475-1250 MeV. The data are inconclusive with respect to antineutrino oscillations suggested by data from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector at Los Alamos National Laboratory.