Muon Simulations for Super-Kamiokande, KamLAND and CHOOZ

Muon backgrounds at Super-Kamiokande, KamLAND and CHOOZ are calculated using MUSIC. A modified version of the Gaisser sea level muon distribution and a well-tested Monte Carlo integration method are introduced. Average muon energy, flux and rate are tabulated. Plots of average energy and angular distributions are given. Implications on muon tracker design for future experiments are discussed.Comment: Revtex4 33 pages, 16 figures and 4 table

The laser calibration system of the HARP TOF

Abstract The calibration and monitoring system constructed for the HARP experiment scintillator-based time of flight system is described. It is based on a Nd-Yag laser with passive Q-switch and active/passive mode-locking, with a custom made laser light injection system based on a bundle of IR monomode optical fibers. A novel ultrafast InGaAs MSM photodiode, with 30 ps risetime, has been used for the laser pulse timing . The first results from the 2001–2002 data taking are presented, showing that drifts in timing down to about 70 ps can be traced

Exploiting synergies between neutrino telescopes for the next galactic core-collapse supernova

Observing and characterizing the next galactic core-collapse supernova will be a critical step for neutrino experiments. Extracting information about the supernova progenitors and neutrino properties within minutes after an observation will in particular be crucial in order to optimize analysis strategies at other observatories. Moreover, certain classes of progenitors, with strong magnetic fields, could give rise to gamma-ray bursts but have been underinvestigated to date. In this contribution we propose a strategy to combine results from next-generation neutrino experiments, focusing notably on the determination of the progenitor mass and the neutrino mass ordering. Additionally, we investigate the impact of strong magnetic fields on neutrino observations, and demonstrate the detectability of the associated effects in upcoming experiments

Measurements of hadron production cross sections and secondary particle yields in the energy range 2-15 GeV using neutrino beam targets

The HARP experiment at CERN is performing extensive measurements ofhadron production cross sections and secondary particle yieldsin the energy range 2-15 GeV over the full solid angle, usinga large set of cryogenic and solid targets.Hadron production in this kinematic region is a relevant ingredient inseveral branches of neutrino physics, such as characterisation of neutrinobeams, precise prediction of atmospheric neutrino fluxes, andquantification of pion production and capture for neutrino factory design.An overall precision of few percent is required from the experimentto reach the final aim.The HARP experimental layout comprises two spectrometers to perform momentummeasurement of the secondaries produced in the target.The so called large-angle spectrometer is housing the target and a timeprojection chamber, while the forward spectrometer is equipped with a setof drift chambers and a large-aperture dipole magnet.The time projection chamber allows for track momentum measurementbelow 1 GeV/c at large-angle (including backward-going) tracks.High-momentum small-angle particles passing through the dipolemagnet are measured by the drift chambers.The track momentum reconstruction in the spectrometers is complementedby a set of particle identification detectors (threshold Cerenkov counter,time-of-flight, electromagnetic calorimeter etc.) that allow forparticle type discrimination with some redundancy.About 30 TB of data corresponding to 400 millions of events have beensuccessfully collected during the two years of experiment.First measurements of hadron production cross sections in the forward region(up to about 300 mrad), using the MiniBooNE and K2K replica targetsand a proton beam of respectively 8.9 and 12.9 GeV/c, will be reported.This is an appealing physics case, given the immediate interest for thoseexperiments and for the neutrino community. A preliminary analysis in thelarge angle region on elastic scattering events produced with the cryogenichydrogen target at 3 GeV/c beam momentum will also be presented

Neutrino Oscillation Measurement at Reactors

International audienceFifty years after the discovery of the electron anti-neutrino with Cowan and Reines’ experiment [1] at the Savannah River nuclear plant, reactor neutrinos continue to play a leading role, mainly in o

Statistical issues in future neutrino oscillation experiments

International audienceThe neutrino community has been debating on how to assess the potential of future oscillation experiments for determining the neutrino Mass Hierarchy and for establishing CP violation in the leptonic sector. A review of some basic concepts and of the approach chosen by different projects to present their results will be shown. The key issues relevant for the future will be discusse

Status of DUNE

International audienceThe Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation underground observatory, to be located in the USA, aiming at precise measurements of long-baseline neutrino oscillations over a 1300 km baseline, detection of supernova neutrinos and search for nucleon decay and other physics beyond the Standard Model. The far detector, a very large liquid argon time projection chamber, requires a dedicated prototyping effort (ProtoDUNE), currently ongoing at CERN

The LAGUNA-LBNO Project

International audienceThe LAGUNA-LBNO Collaboration has proposed a staged approach for the installation of a liquid argon detector at a deep underground location, in the Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland. The experiment will be able to cover important issues in particle physics (proton decay) and astrophysics (neutrinos from supernovae and from the sun). A neutrino beam from CERN, at a distance of 2300 km, will provide a unique potential for assessment of the neutrino mass hierarchy and exploration of CP violation in the leptonic sector. After a short description of the project, we will review its reach for these measurements in the two foreseen phases of the experiment and we will present the prototype to be installed at CERN

Statistical issues in long baseline neutrino physics

International audienceAn animated debate has been ongoing in the neutrino community on how to estimate and quote the expected sensitivity of future long-baseline neutrino experiments to key parameters such as Mass Hierarchy or CP violation. We will present an overview of some items covered by recent papers and will detail the approach chosen by the LBNO Collaboration to present its results