Long-baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiment Research Articles

Non-standard neutrino interactions mediated by a light scalar at DUNE

We investigate the effect on neutrino oscillations generated by beyond-the-standard-model interactions between neutrinos and matter. Specifically, we focus on scalar-mediated non-standard interactions (NSI) whose impact fundamentally differs from that of vector-mediated NSI. Scalar NSI contribute as corrections to the neutrino mass matrix rather than the matter potential and thereby predict distinct phenomenology from the vector-mediated ones. Similar to vector-type NSI, the presence of scalar-mediated neutrino NSI can influence measurements of oscillation parameters in long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, with a notable impact on CP measurement in the case of DUNE. Our study focuses on the effect of scalar NSI on neutrino oscillations, using DUNE as an example. We introduce a model-independent parameterization procedure that enables the examination of the impact of all non-zero scalar NSI parameters simultaneously. Subsequently, we convert DUNE’s sensitivity to the NSI parameters into projected sensitivity concerning the parameters of a light scalar model. We compare these results with existing non-oscillation probes. Our findings reveal that the region of the light scalar parameter space sensitive to DUNE is predominantly excluded by non-oscillation probes, especially when considering all nonzero parameters simultaneously for DUNE.

Expanding neutrino oscillation parameter measurements in NOvA using a Bayesian approach

NOvA is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment that measures oscillations in charged-current νμ→νμ (disappearance) and νμ→νe (appearance) channels, and their antineutrino counterparts, using neutrinos of energies around 2 GeV over a distance of 810 km. In this work we reanalyze the dataset first examined in our previous paper [] using an alternative statistical approach based on Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo. We measure oscillation parameters consistent with the previous results. We also extend our inferences to include the first NOvA measurements of the reactor mixing angle θ13, where we find 0.071≤sin22θ13≤0.107, and the Jarlskog invariant, where we observe no significant preference for the CP-conserving value J=0 over values favoring CP violation. We use these results to examine the effects of constraints from short-baseline measurements of θ13 using antineutrinos from nuclear reactors when making NOvA measurements of θ23. Our long-baseline measurement of θ13 is shown to be consistent with the reactor measurements, supporting the general applicability and robustness of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata framework for neutrino oscillations. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Search for Lorentz violations through the sidereal effect at the NOνA experiment

Long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments offer a unique laboratory to test the fundamental Lorentz symmetry, which is at the heart of both the standard model of particle and general relativity theory. The sidereal modulation in neutrino events will act as the smoking-gun experimental signature of Lorentz and CPT violation. In this study, we investigate the impact of the sidereal effect on standard neutrino oscillation measurements within the context of the NuMI Off-Axis νe Appearance Experiment (NOνA) experiment. Additionally, we assess the sensitivity of the NOνA experiment to detect Lorentz-violating interactions, taking into account the sidereal effect. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of the NOνA experiment to set new constraints on anisotropic Lorentz-violating parameters. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

θ23 Octant sensitivity in presence of light sterile and active ν and [formula omitted] oscillations using beamline experiments

We examine the octant sensitivity of the long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments in view of light sterile neutrino flavors with masses in the 1 eV range. Considering the active-sterile mixing, we explore the possible preferred running modes either neutrino or anti-neutrino for a long-baseline experiment to avoid the octant degeneracy and will show the θ23 sensitivity for different values of active and sterile neutrino phase angles. We simulated different Long baseline experiments for the different possible combinations of mixing angles and phases and will show whether an experiment can probe the right octant in presence of sterile neutrino by choosing the suitable beam either in neutrino or antineutrino running mode.

Muon energy reconstruction for applications in neutrino astronomy in the DUNE far detector

DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) is a proposed long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment located in the United States. The main physics objectives of DUNE are to measure neutrino oscillations and interactions, search for nucleon decay, observe supernova neutrino bursts and beyond Standard Model (BSM) effects. The DUNE far detector will be located 4850 feet underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. It will house the world's largest liquid-argon time projection chambers (TPC). The DUNE far detector can detect high-energy leptons that arise from interactions of cosmogenic neutrinos and search for neutrinos originating from the decay of weakly-interactive massive particles (WIMPs) annihilations occurring inside the Sun. Selecting upward-going muons reduces the background from cosmic-ray muons. The muon energy is estimated from the electromagnetic showers accompanying the muon, a technique that allows energy reconstruction up to a few hundred TeV.

A Pythagoras-like theorem for CP violation in neutrino oscillations

The probabilities of νμ→νe and ν‾μ→ν‾e oscillations in vacuum are determined by the CP-conserving flavor mixing factors Rij≡Re(UμiUejUμj⁎Uei⁎) and the universal Jarlskog invariant of CP violation Jν≡(−1)i+jIm(UμiUejUμj⁎Uei⁎) (for i,j=1,2,3 and i<j), where U is the 3×3 Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata neutrino mixing matrix. We show that Jν2=R12R13+R12R23+R13R23 holds as a natural consequence of the unitarity of U. This Pythagoras-like relation may provide a novel cross-check of the result of Jν that will be directly measured in the next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. Indirect non-unitarity effects and terrestrial matter effects on Jν and Rij are also discussed.

Global constraints on non-standard neutrino interactions with quarks and electrons

We derive new constraints on effective four-fermion neutrino non-standard interactions with both quarks and electrons. This is done through the global analysis of neutrino oscillation data and measurements of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) obtained with different nuclei. In doing so, we include not only the effects of new physics on neutrino propagation but also on the detection cross section in neutrino experiments which are sensitive to the new physics. We consider both vector and axial-vector neutral-current neutrino interactions and, for each case, we include simultaneously all allowed effective operators in flavour space. To this end, we use the most general parametrization for their Wilson coefficients under the assumption that their neutrino flavour structure is independent of the charged fermion participating in the interaction. The status of the LMA-D solution is assessed for the first time in the case of new interactions taking place simultaneously with up quarks, down quarks, and electrons. One of the main results of our work are the presently allowed regions for the effective combinations of non-standard neutrino couplings, relevant for long-baseline and atmospheric neutrino oscillation experiments.

Enhancing sensitivity to leptonic CP violation using complementarity among DUNE, T2HK, and T2HKK

After the landmark discovery of non-zero theta _{13} by the modern reactor experiments, unprecedented precision on neutrino mass-mixing parameters has been achieved over the past decade. This has set the stage for the discovery of leptonic CP violation (LCPV) at high confidence level in the next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. In this work, we explore in detail the possible complementarity among the on-axis DUNE and off-axis T2HK experiments to enhance the sensitivity to LCPV suppressing the theta _{23}-delta _{textrm{CP}} degeneracy. We find that none of these experiments individually can achieve the milestone of 3sigma LCPV for at least 75% choices of delta _{textrm{CP}} in its entire range of [-180^{circ }, 180^{circ }], with their nominal exposures and systematic uncertainties. However, their combination can attain the same for all values of theta _{23} with only half of their nominal exposures. We observe that the proposed T2HKK setup in combination with DUNE can further increase the CP coverage to more than 80% with only half of their nominal exposures. We study in detail how the coverage in delta _{textrm{CP}} for ge 3sigma LCPV depends on the choice of theta _{23}, exposure, optimal runtime in neutrino and antineutrino modes, and systematic uncertainties in these experiments in isolation and combination. We find that with an improved systematic uncertainty of 2.7% in appearance mode, the standalone T2HK setup can provide a CP coverage of around 75% for all values of theta _{23}. We also discuss the pivotal role of intrinsic, extrinsic, and total CP asymmetries in the appearance channel and extrinsic CP asymmetries in the disappearance channel while analyzing our results.

Toward the confirmation of atmospheric neutrino oscillations

Abstract The atmospheric muon neutrino deficit, which was possible evidence of νμ↔ντ oscillation, was reported by the Kamiokande experiment from 1988. Many experimental efforts were made to examine the Kamiokande results. Experiments which contributed to the confirmation of νμ↔ντ oscillation are reviewed. Especially, long-baseline neutrino-oscillation experiments are described in detail.

Total neutron cross-section measurement on CH with a novel 3D-projection scintillator detector

In order to extract neutrino oscillation parameters, long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments rely on detailed models of neutrino interactions with nuclei. These models constitute an important source of systematic uncertainty, partially because detectors to date have been blind to final state neutrons. Three-dimensional projection scintillator trackers comprise components of the near detectors of the next generation long-baseline neutrino experiments. Due to the good timing resolution and fine granularity, this technology is capable of measuring neutron kinetic energy in neutrino interactions on an event-by-event basis and will provide valuable data for refining neutrino interaction models and ways to reconstruct neutrino energy. Two prototypes have been exposed to the neutron beamline at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in both 2019 and 2020, with neutron energies between 0 and 800 MeV. In order to demonstrate the capability of neutron detection, the total neutron-scintillator cross section as a function of neutron energy is measured and compared to external measurements. The measured total neutron cross section in scintillator between 98 and 688 MeV is 0.36 ± 0.05 barn.

Neutron detection and application with a novel 3D-projection scintillator tracker in the future long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments

Neutrino oscillation experiments require a precise measurement of the neutrino energy. However, the kinematic detection of the final-state neutron in the neutrino interaction is missing in current neutrino oscillation experiments. The missing neutron kinematic detection results in a feed-down of the detected neutrino energy compared to the true neutrino energy. A novel 3D\textcolor{black}{-}projection scintillator tracker, which consists of roughly ten million active cubes covered with an optical reflector, is capable of measuring the neutron kinetic energy and direction on an event-by-event basis using the time-of-flight technique thanks to the fast timing, fine granularity, and high light yield. The $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$ interactions tend to produce neutrons in the final state. By inferring the neutron kinetic energy, the $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$ energy can be reconstructed better, allowing a tighter incoming neutrino flux constraint. This paper shows the detector's ability to reconstruct neutron kinetic energy and the $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$ flux constraint achieved by selecting the charged-current interactions without mesons or protons in the final state.

The Upgrade of the T2K ND280 Detector

The Tokai to Kamiokande (T2K) experiment is a long-baseline neutrino experiment taking data since 2010. The neutrino beam is detected on two sites, the near detector complex close to the neutrino production point, and Super-Kamiokande in a distance of 300 km. The ND280 detector is one of the near detectors and has the purpose to characterize the beam before oscillation as also the measurement of interaction cross sections. Both is crucial to reduce the systematic uncertainties. To improve the latter further, the T2K collaboration decided in 2016 an upgrade of ND280 which includes the installation of a novel scintillator tracker, two time projection chambers and a time of flight system. This upgrade, in combination of an increase of the neutrino beam power from currently 500 kW to 1.3 MW, will roughly increase the statistics by a factor 4 and reduce the systematic uncertainties from 6% to 4%. The new subdetectors are currently being assembled and will be installed in 2022. The upgraded ND280 will also serve as near detector of the next generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment Hyper-Kamiokande.

Isovector axial form factor of the nucleon from lattice QCD

The isovector axial form factor of the nucleon plays a key role in interpreting data from long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments. We perform a lattice-QCD based calculation of this form factor, introducing a new method to directly extract its $z$ expansion from lattice correlators. Our final parametrization of the form factor, which extends up to spacelike virtualities of $0.7\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{2}$ with fully quantified uncertainties, agrees with previous lattice calculations but is significantly less steep than neutrino-deuterium scattering data suggests.

Probing free nucleons with (anti)neutrinos

We discuss a method to study free protons and neutrons using ν(ν¯)-hydrogen (H) Charged Current (CC) inelastic interactions, together with various precision tests of the isospin (charge) symmetry using ν and ν¯ CC interactions on both H and nuclear targets. Probing free nucleons with (anti)neutrinos provides information about their partonic structure, as well as a crucial input for the modeling of ν(ν¯)-nucleus (A) interactions. Such measurements concurrently represent a valuable tool to address the main limitations of accelerator-based neutrino scattering experiments on nuclear targets, originating from the combined effect of the unknown (anti)neutrino energy and of the nuclear smearing. To this end, we present a method to impose constraints on nuclear effects and calibrate the (anti)neutrino energy scale in ν(ν¯)-A interactions, which are two outstanding systematic uncertainties affecting present and future long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments.

Energy-dependent neutrino mixing parameters at oscillation experiments

Neutrino mixing parameters are subject to quantum corrections and hence are scale dependent. This means that the mixing parameters associated with the production and detection of neutrinos need not coincide since these processes are characterized by different energy scales. We show that, in the presence of relatively light new physics, the scale dependence of the mixing parameters can lead to observable consequences in long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, such as T2K and $\mathrm{No}\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{a}$, and in neutrino telescopes like IceCube. We discuss some of the experimental signatures of this scenario, including zero-baseline flavor transitions, new sources of $CP$-invariance violation, and apparent inconsistencies among measurements of mixing angles at different experiments or oscillation channels. Finally, we present simple, ultraviolet-complete models of neutrino masses, which lead to observable running of the neutrino mixing matrix below the weak scale.

Nonminimal Lorentz invariance violation in light of the muon anomalous magnetic moment and long-baseline neutrino oscillation data

In light of the increasing hints of new physics at the muon $g\ensuremath{-}2$ and neutrino oscillation experiments, we consider the recently observed tension in the long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments as a potential indication of Lorentz invariance violation. For this purpose, the latest data from T2K and $\mathrm{NO}\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{A}$ is analyzed in the presence of nonminimal Lorentz invariance violation. Indeed, we find that isotropic violation in dimensions $D=4$, 5, and 6 can alleviate the tension in neutrino oscillation data by about $0.4--2.4\ensuremath{\sigma}$ confidence level significance, with the isotropic coefficient ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}\ensuremath{\tau}}^{(5)}=3.58\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}32}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{GeV}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ yielding the best fit. At the same time, the anomalous muon $g\ensuremath{-}2$ result can be reproduced with an additional nonisotropic violation of ${d}^{zt}=\ensuremath{-}1.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}25}$. The analysis highlights the possibility of simultaneous relaxation of experimental tensions with Lorentz invariance violation of a mixed nature.

Probing nonunitary neutrino mixing via long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments based at J-PARC

This paper investigates the capability of long-baseline experiments, which are making use of neutrinos that are coming from Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), in establishing the unitarity of active-neutrino mixing by ruling out the non-unitary mixing scheme as a function of true values of CP-violating phase $\delta_{\mathrm{CP}}$. It is found that T2HK can establish unitarity of active neutrino mixing at above 2$\sigma$ C.L. irrespective of neutrino mass hierarchy and true value of $\delta_{CP}$, if non-unitary (NU) parameter $\alpha_{21}$ is of the order of $10^{-2}$. Further, this paper is also discuss the bound on NU parameter in 21 sector and sensitivity limit of these experiments in determining NU parameter. It is found that the bounds on $\left(\alpha_{21}/2\right)$ are 0.028, 0.0026, 0.005 at 2$\sigma$ C.L. respectively for T2K, T2HK, and T2HKK. Moreover, it is also found that the sensitivity limit of T2HK on NU parameter is far better than that of both T2HKK and T2K.

Purity monitoring for ProtoDUNE-SP

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment is a next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment based on liquid argon time projection chamber technology. DUNE-s single-phase prototype ProtoDUNE-SP at CERN finished its two-year Phase-1 running in July 2021, successfully collected test-beam and cosmic ray data. A key aspect of LArTPC calibration is the lifetime of drift electrons. A purity monitor is a miniature TPC measuring the lifetime of electrons generated from the photocathode via the photoelectric effect. It enables continuous monitoring of the detector status, especially when filling the cryostat and when liquid argon recirculation systems operate. The purity monitoring system in ProtoDUNE-SP Phase-1 monitored liquid argon purity throughout its entire lifetime. It is essential to the experiment’s successful commissioning, operation, and data taking. This poster discusses the design, implementation, and results of purity monitors and plans.

Improving Hyper-Kamiokande sensitivity to CP violation with high precision near detector electron neutrino cross-section measurements

The next generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, Hyper-Kamiokande, will consist of a 260 kt underground water Cherenkov detector, placed 295 km from the neutrino source at J-PARC. This is generated by a 1.3 MW proton beam striking a target. In addition, a suite of near detectors, both on and off-axis will be used. With this, Hyper-Kamiokande aims to perform precision measurements of the parameters governing neutrino oscillations, the observation of CP violation being one of the main aims of the experiment. To achieve these goals, Hyper-Kamiokande will require smaller systematic uncertainties than in any previous long-baseline experiment.Many of these systematic uncertainties are related to neutrino-nucleus interactions, and can be constrained by a detector placed close to the beam production point. For this, the Hyper-Kamiokande long-baseline programme includes an Intermediate Water Cherenkov Detector, the IWCD. This is a 500 tonne water Cherenkov detector located 1 km from the beam production point. This detector is able to move within a vertical shaft and span a range of off-axis angles relative to the beam, from 1 to 4 degrees. The combination of large target mass, precise water Cherenkov reconstruction and off-axis angle flux dependence allows for high purity and high statistics electron neutrino and electron antineutrino samples. This paper describes how this detector can be used to constrain the major systematic uncertainty affecting the measurement of CP violation at Hyper-Kamiokande: the electron neutrino and antineutrino interaction cross section.

Demonstrating a single-block 3D-segmented plastic-scintillator detector

Three-dimensional finely grained plastic scintillator detectors bring many advantages in particle detectors, allowing a massive active target which enables a high-precision tracking of interaction products, excellent calorimetry and a sub-nanosecond time resolution. Whilst such detectors can be scaled up to several-tonnes, as required by future neutrino experiments, a relatively long production time, where each single plastic-scintillator element is independently manufactured and machined, together with potential challenges in the assembly, complicates their realisation. In this manuscript we propose a novel design for 3D granular scintillator detectors where O(1 cm3) cubes are efficiently glued in a single block of scintillator after being produced via cast polymerization, which can enable rapid and cost-efficient detector construction. This work could become particularly relevant for the detectors of the next-generation long-baseline neutrino-oscillation experiments, such as DUNE, Hyper-Kamiokande and ESSnuSB.