We compare the solutions to the short baseline neutrino anomaly based on oscillations to sterile neutrinos and the stochastic neutrino mixing mechanism (SNMM) through an analysis of the present neutrino data. The SNMM suggests worse fits than a $3+1$ sterile neutrino model, although it cannot be discarded by present data. We propose an experiment to distinguish between both solutions, based on placing a ${}^8\mathrm{Li}$ source inside a 5 kton-yr detector (like SNO). We studied the sensitivity of such an experiment, which makes it possible to discriminate within $2\sigma$ the SNMM from the $3+1$ sterile hypothesis for some particular values of the relevant parameters in 5 kton-yr of running.

• Received 19 February 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.91.113009