NOVEL ACCELERATION TECHNIQUES FOR THE PHYSICS OF MASSIVE NEUTRINOS

Abstract

In the forthcoming decades, the physics of massive neutrinos will pose unprecedented challenges to traditional acceleration techniques. In this talk we revise the main motivations for pursuing neutrino oscillation studies with novel ν sources and, particularly, we consider the opportunities offered by laser-plasma accelerators. The existence of efficient ion acceleration regimes in collective laser-plasma interactions opens up the possibility to develop neutrino and, more generally, high-energy physics facilities in conjunction with projects for inertial confinement nuclear fusion (ICF) and neutron spallation sources. Moreover, parametric amplification techniques allow pulse compression implementations that do not fall in contradiction with current designs for ICF drivers. We discuss the conditions under which these efficient regimes can be put into operation and the perspectives for their empirical verification.