Future Neutrino Physics

Mitch SoderbergFermilab Institutional Review

June 6-9, 2011

Outline

• Physics of future neutrino experiments.

• NuMI Neutrino Beam Experiments NOA MINOS+ MINERA

• Booster Neutrino Beam Experiments MiniBooNE MicroBooNE

• LBNE

• Neutrino Possibilities with Project X

• Conclusion

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Long Baseline Neutrino Physics

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• Neutrino oscillation physics is entering an exciting period, with several experiments under construction, or on the horizon, that have discovery potential.

What is 𝜃13? Is there CP violation with neutrinos? What is the mass hierarchy?

• NOvA, T2K, and reactor experiments could measure 𝜃13 in the coming years.

• MINOS reports interesting 2 𝜎neutrino/antineutrino discrepancy.

MINOS Neutrino/Antineutrino Results

𝜃13 Discovery Evolution

arXiv:1005.3146

Short Baseline Neutrino Physics

• MiniBooNE sees hint of LSND-like oscillation in antineutrino mode.

Sterile Neutrinos? Lorentz/CPT violation? New interactions?

• Measurements of neutrino cross-sections in the few-GeV region are extremely relevant for oscillation physics, and can probe interesting nuclear effects (e.g. - short-range correlations).

• Short-Baseline Workshop held at Fermilab in May to discuss this physics.

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Neutrino Cross-Sections

Goal for Proton Source Throughput

Timeline for Fermilab Neutrino Experiments in Coming Decade

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Tevatron ends

NOvA

MINERvA

MINOS?

MicroBooNE

g-2 Mu2eMINERvA

MINOS

MiniBooNE

LBNE

NOvA

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Of next generation experiments, NOvA uniquely provides

information on the neutrino mass hierarchy, CP, and possible

differences in neutrino and antineutrino disappearance rates.

NOvA is a next generation experiment on the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beam to search for eand e oscillations

NuMI CCQE event in NOvA prototypeo Far detector laboratory near completion at Ash River MN 810 km from FNAL.

o First detector planes to be installed at end of this year.o Operating a prototype on surface at FNAL in NuMI

and Booster neutrino beamso Upgrade to 700 kW NuMI beam intensity during

shutdown in 2012.o First data starting in early 2013o Far detector completed by end of 2013.

Beneficial occupancy of Ash River lab 4/11

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NOvA

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NOvA has been operating a prototype near detector on the surface in the NuMI and Booster neutrino beams since December 2010. Already recorded 1001 NuMI events and 189 Booster events.

NuMI spill gate (10 usec)

BNB spill gate (1.6 usec)

Beam direction

NOvA e and e appearance

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NOvA is designed to have large mass, low Z, and fine segmentation to separate e CC events from NC events

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NOvA and Disappearance

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charged-current interactions have a very clear signature in NOvA (see below) and are reconstructed with 4% energy resolution allowing for precise measurements of “23” sector both in neutrino and antineutrino mode.

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Energy rise at end of proton track

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Measurements of “23” oscillation parameters for three possible choices of

inputs

Resolution of the MINOS neutrino/antineutrino discrepancy.

MINOS+

• MINOS collaboration has proposed continued running in the NuMI-NOvA beam.

• 3000 CC events/year in 4-10GeV range in MINOS. (Have ~1500 events in this range after 5 years of LE running).

• Extended running would quickly improve existing MINOS 𝜃23, m𝛥 2 measurements, and also improve world measurement when combined with NOvA.

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After 3 years of MINOS+ Running

4-10GeV range only covered by MINOS

MINOS+

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MINOS+ can also search for non-standard interactions (NSI).

NSI = Differences between neutrinos and anti-neutrinos due to non-standard matter effects.

Comparison of low and high energy behavior could disentangle NSI story without anti-neutrino running.

J. Kopp, P.A.N. Machado and S.Parke, Phys.Rev.D82:113002 (2010).

MINERA: LOI to study -D scattering

• Wealth of charged lepton ratios of A/D structure functions

• Global fits for these ratios in neutrinos puzzling

• Measuring -D scattering (and A/D ratios) will allow new wealth of -A data to be used in extracting PDF’s

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MINERvA can see broad range in x,y, Q2 in NuMI Medium Energy beam

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MINERA Capabilities with D2 target

• Using current knowledge of detector Acceptance

performance

• Includes Empty target run

• Can get to first direct measurements of Fe/D2 Structure Functions in ’s and anti-’s

• Investigating ability to identify Quasi-Elastic events also!

• Figures assume 3 years , 3 years anti-, 6E20/year

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Getting Deuterium to MINERA

• Current Vessel is rated for D2 as well as Helium

• Submitted LOI to Directorate to request advice on pursuing solutions to:

Safety concerns for running D2 underground

Acquiring 0.37tons of D2

Modest detector upgrades might extend physics reach even further

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Future MiniBooNE Running

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•MiniBooNE will run until the March 2012 shutdown, at which point they will have collected >1E21 POT in anti- mode. •After analysis of this data, MiniBooNE will decide on submitting a proposal for future running.

5.66E20 POT in Anti-Nu Mode

6.46E20 POT in Nu Mode

MicroBooNE

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•MicroBooNE is a 170 ton Liquid Argon neutrino detector that will begin operations in 2013.

•MicroBooNE has several goals: •Determine the nature of the MiniBooNE low-energy excess.

•Make numerous cross-section measurements (many for the 1st time on LAr).

•Measure background rates relevant for nucleon-decay searches at LBNE.

•MicroBooNE serves as a technology test for future massive Liquid Argon detectors.

Expected MicroBooNE Neutrino Sample

Schematic of MicroBooNE Experiment

MicroBooNE

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Neutrino Interaction in ArgoNeuT Detector

•MicroBooNE will have superior background rejection, relative to MiniBooNE, thanks to capabilities of Liquid Argon detectors.

•Neutral Current background is almost completely eliminated using MicroBooNE’s excellent electron/photon separation.

•Simulation/Reconstruction tools developed/tested on ArgoNeuT will be used on MicroBooNE and LBNE.

LBNE

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LBNE = Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment 306 members, 58 institutions, 5 countries

LBNE, located at the Homestake Mine (L~1300km), would receive an intense neutrino beam from Fermilab.

LBNE would run in the era after NOvA (~2020). Far-detector options include:

One 200kTon (fiducial) Water Cerenkov detector Two 17kTon (fiducial) LArTPCs

Water Cerenkov detector at 4800’ Depth Two LAr detectors at 800’ Depth

LBNE

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LBNE will have excellent sensitivity to measurements of 𝜃13, 𝛿CP, and mass hierarchy.

LBNE far detectors will improve the limits of nucleon decay.

Supernova neutrino burst would produces thousands of interactions in far detectors.

34 kTons LAr

200 kTons WC

Neutrino Physics in the Project X Era

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3 GeV, 8GeV, and 120GeV proton sources available in Project X era.

2 MW beam to LBNE greatly increases the exposure rate and extends the physics reach.

Intense beams for short-baseline experiments would be extremely sought after if LSND/MiniBooNE signals persist.

LAr+WC Sensitivities for 700kW/2MW

Diagram of Project X Facilities

Conclusions

• Fermilab will have unique facilities for neutrino physics in the coming decade (on/off axis beams, short-baseline experiments, precision measurements).

• Experimental neutrino physics will be thriving at Fermilab in the coming decade.

• Results from future long-baseline experiments will further our understanding of neutrino oscillations.

• Continued exploration of short-baseline experiments will produce precision cross-section measurements while potentially leading to the discovery of sterile neutrinos or other new physics.

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