Neutrino oscillation studies with laser-driven beam dump facilities

A new mechanism is suggested for efficient proton acceleration in the GeV energy range; applications to non-conventional high intensity proton drivers and, hence, to low-energy (10-200 MeV) neutrino sources are discussed. In particular we investigate possible uses to explore subdominant $\bar{\nu}_\mu \to \bar{\nu}_e$ oscillations at the atmospheric scale and their CP conjugate. We emphasize the opportunity to develop these facilities in conjunction with projects for inertial confined nuclear fusion and neutron spallation sources.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, minor changes, version to appear in Nucl.Instrum.Meth.