2 research outputs found
Learning from tau appearance
The study of numu->nutau oscillation and the explicit observation of the
nutau through the identification of the final-state tau lepton ("direct
appearance search") represent the most straightforward test of the oscillation
phenomenon. It is, nonetheless, the most challenging from the experimental
point of view. In this paper we discuss the current empirical evidence for
direct appearance of tau neutrinos at the atmospheric scale and the
perspectives for the next few years, up to the completion of the CNGS physics
programme. We investigate the relevance of this specific oscillation channel to
gain insight into neutrino physics within the standard three-family framework.
Finally, we discuss the opportunities offered by precision studies of
numu->nutau transitions in the occurrence of more exotic scenarios emerging
from additional sterile neutrinos or non-standard interactions.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures, to appear in NJ