Back to (Mass-)Square(d) One: The Neutrino Mass Ordering in Light of Recent Data

Abstract

We inspect recently updated neutrino oscillation data -- specifically coming from the Tokai to Kamioka and NuMI Off-axis ${\nu }_e$ Appearance experiments -- and how they are analyzed to determine whether the neutrino mass ordering is normal ($m_1<m_2<m_3$) or inverted ($m_3<m_1<m_2$). We show that, despite previous results giving a strong preference for the normal ordering, with the newest data from T2K and NOvA, this preference has all but vanished. Additionally, we highlight the importance of this result for non-oscillation probes of neutrinos, including neutrinoless double beta decay and cosmology. Future experiments, including JUNO, DUNE, and T2HK will provide valuable information and determine the mass ordering at a high confidence level.

Comments: 5 pages, 3 figures + 1 appendix (1 figure). Updated NOvA analysis, matches published version