ENERGY AND ZENITH ANGLE DISTRIBUTION OF UPWARD GOING MUONS AND NEUTRINO OSCILLATIONS

The energy and zenith angle distribution of neutrino induced, upward g oing muons can give direct information on the presence of nu oscillati ons in precisely the range of parameters suggested as a solution of th e atmospheric neutrino problem. We show that the shape of the zenith a ngle distribution of the muon flux is quite insensitive to modificatio ns of the theoretical input and is therefore an excellent probe for ne utrino oscillations. We conclude that the existing data sample on nu-i nduced muons has the statistical power to confirm or refute the nu-osc illation solution of the atmospheric neutrino problem. [S0556-2821(98) 50807-7].