The physics potential of beta beams is investigated from low to very high
gamma values and it is compared to superbeams and neutrino factories. The gamma
factor and the baseline are treated as continuous variables in the optimization
of the beta beam, while a fixed mass water Cherenkov detector or a totally
active scintillator detector is assumed. We include in our discussion also the
gamma dependence of the number of ion decays per year. For low gamma, we find
that a beta beam could be a very interesting alternative to a superbeam
upgrade, especially if it is operated at the second oscillation maximum to
reduce correlations and degeneracies. For high gamma, we find that a beta beam
could have a potential similar to a neutrino factory. In all cases, the
sensitivity of the beta beams to CP violation is very impressive if similar
neutrino and anti-neutrino event rates can be achieved.Comment: 34 pages, 16 figures, Fig. 2 modified, discussion improved, refs.
added, version to appear in PR