Monochromatic Neutrino Beam Research Articles

A realistic model for dark matter interactions in the neutrino portal paradigm

We discuss a simple extension of the Standard Model (SM) that provides an explicit realization of the dark-matter (DM) neutrino-portal paradigm. The dark sector is composed of a scalar $ \Phi $ and a Dirac fermion $ \Psi $, with the latter assumed to be lighter than the former. These particles interact with the SM through the exchange of a set of heavy Dirac fermion mediators that are neutral under all local SM symmetries, and also under the dark-sector symmetry that stabilizes the $ \Psi $ against decay. We show that this model can accommodate all experimental and observational constraints provided the DM mass is below $\sim 35\, \gev $ or is in a resonant region of the Higgs or $Z$ boson. We also show that if the dark scalar and dark fermion are almost degenerate in mass, heavier DM fermions are not excluded. We note that in this scenario DM annihilation in the cores of astrophysical objects and the galactic halo produces a monochromatic neutrino beam of energy $ \mfe $, which provides a clear signature for this paradigm. Other experimental signatures are also discussed.

Electromagnetic modulation of monochromatic neutrino beams

We discuss the possibility to produce a modulated monochromatic neutrino beam. Monochromatic neutrinos can be obtained in electron capture by nuclei of atoms or ions. Hydrogen-like ions are of particular interest. It is shown that monochromatic neutrino beam from such hydrogen-like ions with nuclei of non-zero spin can be modulated because of different probabilities of electron capture from hyperfine states. Modulation arises by means of inducing of electromagnetic transitions between the hyperfine states. Requirements for the hydrogen-like ions with necessary properties are discussed. A list of the appropriate nuclei for such ions is presented.

Electromagnetic modulation of monochromatic neutrino beams

A possibility to produce a modulated monochromatic neutrino beam is discussed. Monochromatic neutrinos can be obtained in electron capture by nuclei of atoms or ions, in particular, by nuclei of hydrogen-like ions. It is shown that monochromatic neutrino beam from such hydrogen-like ions with nuclei of non-zero spin can be modulated because of different probabilities of electron capture from hyperfine states. Modulation arises by means of inducing of electromagnetic transitions between the hyperfine states. Requirements for the hydrogen-like ions with necessary properties are discussed. A list of the appropriate nuclei for such ions is presented.

Energy dependence of CP-violation reach for monochromatic neutrino beam

The ultimate goal of future neutrino facilities is the determination of CP violation in neutrino oscillations. Besides |U(e3)|≠0, this will require precision experiments with a very intense neutrino source and energy control. With this objective in mind, the creation of monochromatic neutrino beams from the electron capture decay of boosted ions by the SPS of CERN has been proposed. We discuss the capabilities of such a facility as a function of the energy of the boost and the baseline for the detector. We compare the physics potential for two different configurations: (I) γ=90 and γ=195 (maximum achievable at present SPS) to Frejus; (II) γ=195 and γ=440 (maximum achievable at upgraded SPS) to Canfranc. We conclude that the SPS upgrade to 1000 GeV is important to reach a better sensitivity to CP violation iff it is accompanied by a longer baseline.

The capabilities of monochromatic EC neutrino beams with the SPS upgrade

The goal for future neutrino facilities is the determination of the U(e3) mixing and CP violation in neutrino oscillations. This will require precision experiments with a very intense neutrino source and energy control. With this objective in mind, the creation of monochromatic neutrino beams from the electron capture decay of boosted ions by the SPS of CERN has been proposed. We discuss the capabilities of such a facility as a function of the energy of the boost and the baseline for the detector. We conclude that the SPS upgrade to 1000 GeV is crucial to reach a better sensitivity to CP violation iff it is accompanied by a longer baseline. We compare the physics potential for two different configurations: I) γ = 90 and γ = 195 (maximum achievable at present SPS) to Frejus; II) γ = 195 and γ = 440 (maximum achievable at upgraded SPS) to Canfranc. The main conclusion is that, whereas the gain in the determination of U(e3) is rather modest, setup II provides much better sensitivity to CP violation.

Recoilless resonant absorption of a monochromatic neutrino beam for measuring Δm231 and θ13

We discuss, in the context of precision measurement of Δ m231 and θ13, physics capabilities enabled by the recoilless resonant absorption of a monochromatic antineutrino beam enhanced by the Mössbauer effect recently proposed by Raghavan. Under the assumption of a small relative systematic error of the level of a few tenths of a per cent between measurements at different detector locations, we give analytical and numerical estimates of the sensitivities to Δ m231 and sin22θ13. The accuracies of their determination are enormous; the fractional uncertainty in Δ m231 achievable by ten point measurement is 0.6% (2.4%) for sin22θ13 = 0.05, and the uncertainty of sin22θ13 is 0.002 (0.008) both at 1σ confidence level (CL) with the optimistic (pessimistic) assumption of systematic error of 0.2% (1%). The former opens a new possibility of determining the neutrino mass hierarchy by comparing the measured value of Δ m231 with that from accelerator experiments, while the latter will help to resolve the θ23 octant degeneracy.

Monochromatic neutrino beams

In the last few years spectacular results have been achieved with the demonstration of non vanishing neutrino masses and flavour mixing. The ultimate goal is the understanding of the origin of these properties from new physics. In this road, the last unknown mixing [Ue3] must be determined. If it is proved to be non-zero, the possibility is open for Charge Conjugation-Parity (CP) violation in the lepton sector. This will require precision experiments with a very intense neutrino source. Here a novel method to create a monochromatic neutrino beam, an old dream for neutrino physics, is proposed based on the recent discovery of nuclei that decay fast through electron capture. Such nuclei will generate a monochromatic directional neutrino beam when decaying at high energy in a storage ring with long straight sections. We also show that the capacity of such a facility to discover new physics is impressive, so that fine tuning of the boosted neutrino energy allows precision measurements of the oscillation parameters even for a [Ue3] mixing as small as 1 degree. We can thus open a window to the discovery of CP violation in neutrino oscillations.

Neutrino oscillations in structured matter

A layered material structure in a monochromatic neutrino beam produces interference effects that could be used for the measurement of features of the neutrino mass matrix. The phenomenon would be most useful at high energies.