The CosmicWatch Desktop Muon Detector: a self-contained, pocket sized particle detector

The CosmicWatch Desktop Muon Detector is a self-contained, hand-held cosmic ray muon detector that is valuable for astro/particle physics research applications and outreach. The material cost of each detector is under $100 and it takes a novice student approximately four hours to build their first detector. The detectors are powered via a USB connection and the data can either be recorded directly to a computer or to a microSD card. Arduino- and Python-based software is provided to operate the detector and an online application to plot the data in real-time. In this paper, we describe the various design features, evaluate the performance, and illustrate the detectors capabilities by providing several example measurements.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

The LSND and MiniBooNE Oscillation Searches at High Δm2\Delta m^2

This paper reviews the results of the LSND and MiniBooNE experiments. The primary goal of each experiment was to effect sensitive searches for neutrino oscillations in the mass region with $\Delta m^2 \sim 1$ eV$^2$. The two experiments are complementary, and so the comparison of results can bring additional information with respect to models with sterile neutrinos. Both experiments obtained evidence for $\bar \nu_\mu \rightarrow \bar \nu_e$ oscillations, and MiniBooNE also observed a $\nu_\mu \rightarrow \nu_e$ excess. In this paper, we review the design, analysis, and results from these experiments. We then consider the results within the global context of sterile neutrino oscillation models. The final data sets require a more extended model than the simple single sterile neutrino model imagined at the time that LSND drew to a close and MiniBooNE began. We show that there are apparent incompatibilities between data sets in models with two sterile neutrinos. However, these incompatibilities may be explained with variations within the systematic error. Overall, models with two (or three) sterile neutrinos seem to succeed in fitting the global data, and they make interesting predictions for future experiments.Comment: Posted with permission from the Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science, Volume 63. \c{opyright} 2013 by Annual Reviews, http://www.annualreviews.or

Sterile Neutrinos: An Introduction to Experiments

This paper is written as one chapter in a collection of essays on neutrino physics for beginning graduate students. The text presents important experimental methods and issues for those interested in searches for sterile neutrinos. Other essays in the collection, written by other authors, will cover introduction to neutrinos in the Standard Model, a description of the theory, and discussion of details of detectors, thus these aspects are not covered here. However, beyond these points, this represents a self-contained tutorial on experimental studies of sterile neutrino oscillations, covering such issues as signals vs. limits, designing experiments, and performing and interpreting global fits to the oscillation data.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1505855)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1505858)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1404209

Exploring a Non-Minimal Sterile Neutrino Model Involving Decay at IceCube and Beyond

We study the phenomenology of neutrino decay together with neutrino oscillations in the context of eV-scale sterile neutrinos. We review the formalism of visible neutrino decay in which one of the decay products is a neutrino that potentially can be observed. We apply the formalism developed for decay to the recent sterile neutrino search performed by IceCube with TeV neutrinos. We show that for $\nu_4$ lifetime $\tau_4/m_4 \lesssim 10^{-16} {\rm eV^{-1}s}$, the interpretation of the high-energy IceCube analysis can be significantly changed.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Find code at: https://github.com/arguelles/nuSQUIDSDeca

First Constraints on the Complete Neutrino Mixing Matrix with a Sterile Neutrino

Neutrino oscillation models involving one extra mass eigenstate beyond the standard three (3+1) are fit to global short baseline experimental data and the recent IceCube ν[subscript μ] + [bar over v][subscript μ] disappearance search result. We find a best fit of Δm[subscript 41][superscript 2]=1.75  eV[superscript 2] with Δx[subscript null-min][superscript 2]/d.o.f. of 50.61/4. We find that the combined IceCube and short baseline data constrain θ[subscript 34] to <80°(<6°) at 90% C.L. for Δm[subscript 41][superscript 2]≈2(6)  eV[superscript 2], which is improved over present limits. Incorporating the IceCube information provides the first constraints on all entries of the 3+1 mixing matrix.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1505858)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1505855

Closing the Neutrino "BSM Gap": Physics Potential of Atmospheric Through-Going Muons at DUNE

Many Beyond-Standard Model physics signatures are enhanced in high-energy neutrino interactions. To explore these signatures, ultra-large Cherenkov detectors such as IceCube exploit event samples with charged current muon neutrino interactions > 1 TeV. Most of these interactions occur below the detector volume, and produce muons that enter the detector. However, the large spacing between detectors leads to inefficiency for measuring muons with energies below or near the critical energy of 400 GeV. In response, IceCube has built a densely instrumented region within the larger detector. This provides large samples of well-reconstructed interactions that are contained within the densely instrumented region, extending up to energies of ~50 GeV. This leaves a gap of relatively unexplored atmospheric-neutrino events with energies between 50 GeV and 1 TeV in the ultra-large detectors. In this paper we point out that interesting Beyond Standard Model signatures may appear in this energy window, and that early running of the DUNE far detectors can give insight into new physics that may appear in this range.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, 1 tabl