Observation of neutrino interactions in the OPERA detector

TL;DR

The OPERA experiment aims to detect tau neutrinos resulting from muon neutrino oscillations over a long baseline, providing direct evidence of neutrino flavor change.

Contribution

This paper reports the initial successful detection and reconstruction of neutrino interactions in the OPERA detector, demonstrating its capability for neutrino oscillation studies.

Findings

First 38 neutrino interactions located and reconstructed

OPERA's physics potential for observing $ u_{ au}$ appearance

Performance assessment for neutrino oscillation measurements

Abstract

OPERA is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment designed to observe $\nu_{\mu} \to \nu_{\tau}$ oscillations by looking at the appearance of $\nu_{\tau}$'s in an almost pure $\nu_\mu$ beam. The beam is produced at CERN and sent towards the Gran Sasso INFN laboratories where the experiment is running. OPERA started its data taking in October 2007, when the first 38 neutrino interactions where successfully located and reconstructed. This paper reviews the status of the experiment discussing its physics potential and performances for neutrino oscillation studies.