Proposal for an electron antineutrino disappearance search using high-rate 8Li production and decay.
This paper introduces an experimental probe of the sterile neutrino with a novel, high-intensity source of electron antineutrinos from the production and subsequent decay of 8Li. When paired with an existing ∼1 kton scintillator-based detector, this <E(ν)> = 6.4 MeV source opens a wide range of possible searches for beyond standard model physics via studies of the inverse beta decay interaction ν(e) + p → e+ + n. In particular, the experimental design described here has unprecedented sensitivity to ν(e) disappearance at Δm2 ∼ 1  eV2 and features the ability to distinguish between the existence of zero, one, and two sterile neutrinos.
University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, United Kingdom.
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Bungau
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Adelmann
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Alonso
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Barletta
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Barlow
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Bartoszek
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Calabretta
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Calanna
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Campo
J M
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Conrad
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Djurcic
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Kamyshkov
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Shaevitz
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Shimizu
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Smidt
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Spitz
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Wascko
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Winslow
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Yang