Untangling CP Violation and the Mass Hierarchy in Long Baseline Experiments

In the overlap region, for the normal and inverted hierarchies, of the neutrino-antineutrino bi-probability space for $\nu_\mu \to \nu_e$ appearance, we derive a simple identity between the solutions in the ($\sin^2 2\theta_{13}$, $\sin \delta$) plane for the different hierarchies. The parameter $\sin^2 2\theta_{13}$ sets the scale of the $\nu_\mu \to \nu_e$ appearance probabilities at the atmospheric $\delta m^2_{atm} \approx 2.4 \times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2$ whereas $\sin \delta$ controls the amount of CP violation in the lepton sector. The identity between the solutions is that the difference in the values of $\sin \delta$ for the two hierarchies equals twice the value of $\sqrt{\sin^2 2\theta_{13}}$ divided by the {\it critical} value of $\sqrt{\sin^2 2\theta_{13}}$. We apply this identity to the two proposed long baseline experiments, T2K and NO$\nu$A, and we show how it can be used to provide a simple understanding of when and why fake solutions are excluded when two or more experiments are combined. The identity demonstrates the true complimentarity of T2K and NO$\nu$A.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, 4 postscript figures. Submitted to New Journal of Physics, ``Focus on Neutrino Physics'' issu

Synergies between the first-generation JHF-SK and NuMI superbeam experiments

We discuss synergies in the combination of the first-generation JHF to Super-Kamiokande and NuMI off-axis superbeam experiments. With synergies we mean effects which go beyond simply adding the statistics of the two experiments. As a first important result, we do not observe interesting synergy effects in the combination of the two experiments as they are planned right now. However, we find that with minor modifications, such as a different NuMI baseline or a partial antineutrino running, one could do much richer physics with both experiments combined. Specifically, we demonstrate that one could, depending on the value of the solar mass squared difference, either measure the sign of the atmospheric mass squared difference or CP violation already with the initial stage experiments. Our main results are presented in a way that can be easily interpreted in terms of the forthcoming KamLAND result.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figure

Reactor Neutrino Experiments Compared to Superbeams

We present a detailed quantitative discussion of the measurement of the leptonic mixing angle $\sin^2 2 \theta_{13}$ with a future reactor neutrino oscillation experiment consisting of a near and far detector. We perform a thorough analysis of the impact of various systematical errors and compare the resulting physics potential to the one of planned first-generation superbeam experiments. Furthermore, we investigate the complementarity of both types of experiments. We find that, under realistic assumptions, a determination of $\sin^2 2 \theta_{13}$ down to $10^{-2}$ is possible with reactor experiments. They are thus highly competitive to first-generation superbeams and may be able to test $\sin^2 2 \theta_{13}$ on shorter timescales. In addition, we find that the combination of a KamLAND-size reactor experiment with one or two superbeams could substantially improve the ability to access the neutrino mass hierarchy or the leptonic CP phase.Comment: Typo in Eq. (9) corrected. 36 pages, 12 figure

Precision on leptonic mixing parameters at future neutrino oscillation experiments

We perform a comparison of the different future neutrino oscillation experiments based on the achievable precision in the determination of the fundamental parameters theta_{13} and the CP phase, delta, assuming that theta_{13} is in the range indicated by the recent Daya Bay measurement. We study the non-trivial dependence of the error on delta on its true value. When matter effects are small, the largest error is found at the points where CP violation is maximal, and the smallest at the CP conserving points. The situation is different when matter effects are sizable. As a result of this effect, the comparison of the physics reach of different experiments on the basis of the CP discovery potential, as usually done, can be misleading. We have compared various proposed super-beam, beta-beam and neutrino factory setups on the basis of the relative precision of theta_{13} and the error on delta. Neutrino factories, both high-energy or low-energy, outperform alternative beam technologies. An ultimate precision on theta_{13} below 3% and an error on delta of < 7^{\circ} at 1 sigma (1 d.o.f.) can be obtained at a neutrino factory.Comment: Minor changes, matches version accepted in JHEP. 30 pages, 9 figure

Clone flow analysis for a theory inspired Neutrino Experiment planning

The presence of several clone solutions in the simultaneous measurement of ($\theta_{13},\delta$) has been widely discussed in literature. In this letter we write the analytical formulae of the clones location in the ($\theta_{13},\delta$) plane as a function of the physical input pair ($\bar\theta_{13},\bar\delta$). We show how the clones move with changing $\bar\theta_{13}$. The "clone flow" can be significantly different if computed (naively) from the oscillation probabilities or (exactly) from the probabilities integrated over the neutrino flux and cross-section. Using our complete computation we compare the clone flow of a set of possible future neutrino experiments: the CERN SuperBeam, BetaBeam and Neutrino Factory proposals. We show that the combination of these specific BetaBeam and SuperBeam does not help in solving the degeneracies. On the contrary, the combination of one of them with the Neutrino Factory Golden and Silver channel can be used, from a theoretical point of view, to solve completely the eightfold degeneracy.Comment: 23 pages, using epsfi

Neutrino physics at accelerators

Present and future neutrino experiments at accelerators are mainly concerned with understanding the neutrino oscillation phenomenon and its implications. Here a brief account of neutrino oscillations is given together with a description of the supporting data. Some current and planned accelerator neutrino experiments are also explained.Comment: 23 pages, 24 figures. Talk given at the Corfu Summer Institute on Elementary Particle Physics 200

Superbeams versus Neutrino Factories

We compare the physics potential of planned superbeams with the one of neutrino factories. Therefore, the experimental setups as well as the most relevant uncertainties and errors are considered on the same footing as much as possible. We use an improved analysis including the full parameter correlations, as well as statistical, systematical, and degeneracy errors. Especially, degeneracies have so far not been taken into account in a numerical analysis. We furthermore include external input, such as improved knowledge of the solar oscillation parameters from the KamLAND experiment. This allows us to determine the limiting uncertainties in all cases. For a specific comparison, we choose two representatives of each class: For the superbeam, we take the first conceivable setup, namely the JHF to SuperKamiokande experiment, as well as, on a longer time scale, the JHF to HyperKamiokande experiment. For the neutrino factory, we choose an initially conceivable setup and an advanced machine. We determine the potential to measure the small mixing angle sin^2 2 theta_{13}, the sign of Delta m^2_{31}, and the leptonic CP phase \deltacp, which also implies that we compare the limitations of the different setups. We find interesting results, such as the complete loss of the sensitivity to the sign of Delta m^2_{31} due to degeneracies in many cases.Comment: Revised version with JHF energy resolution corrected, discussion of detector issues added (App. B), and references added. Summary and conclusions unchanged. 51 pages, 28 figures, 4 table

Neutrino hierarchy from CP-blind observables with high density magnetized detectors

High density magnetized detectors are well suited to exploit the outstanding purity and intensities of novel neutrino sources like Neutrino Factories and Beta Beams. They can also provide independent measurements of leptonic mixing parameters through the observation of atmospheric muon-neutrinos. In this paper, we discuss the combination of these observables from a multi-kton iron detector and a high energy Beta Beam; in particular, we demonstrate that even with moderate detector granularities the neutrino mass hierarchy can be determined for $\theta_{13}$ values greater than 4$^\circ$.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures. Added a new section discussing systematic errors (sec 5.2); sec.5.1 and 4 have been extended. Version to appear in EPJ

A minimal Beta Beam with high-Q ions to address CP violation in the leptonic sector

In this paper we consider a Beta Beam setup that tries to leverage at most existing European facilities: i.e. a setup that takes advantage of facilities at CERN to boost high-Q ions (8Li and 8B) aiming at a far detector located at L = 732 Km in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory. The average neutrino energy for 8Li and 8B ions boosted at \gamma ~ 100 is in the range E_\nu = [1,2] GeV, high enough to use a large iron detector of the MINOS type at the far site. We perform, then, a study of the neutrino and antineutrino fluxes needed to measure a CP-violating phase delta in a significant part of the parameter space. In particular, for theta_13 > 3 deg, if an antineutrino flux of 3 10^19 useful 8Li decays per year is achievable, we find that delta can be measured in 60% of the parameter space with 6 10^18 useful 8B decays per year.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, added references and corrected typo

Neutrino tomography - Learning about the Earth's interior using the propagation of neutrinos

Because the propagation of neutrinos is affected by the presence of Earth matter, it opens new possibilities to probe the Earth's interior. Different approaches range from techniques based upon the interaction of high energy (above TeV) neutrinos with Earth matter, to methods using the MSW effect on the neutrino oscillations of low energy (MeV to GeV) neutrinos. In principle, neutrinos from many different sources (sun, atmosphere, supernovae, beams etc.) can be used. In this talk, we summarize and compare different approaches with an emphasis on more recent developments. In addition, we point out other geophysical aspects relevant for neutrino oscillations.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures. Proceedings of ``Neutrino sciences 2005: Neutrino geophysics'', December 14-16, 2005, Honolulu, USA. Minor changes, some references added. Final version to appear in Earth, Moon, and Planet