Precise measurement of theta_13 at Daya Bay

TL;DR

The Daya Bay experiment aims to precisely measure the neutrino mixing angle theta_13 by detecting electron antineutrino disappearance using multiple detectors, with the goal of achieving high sensitivity within three years.

Contribution

This paper reports on the design, construction, and initial status of the Daya Bay experiment, which is set to measure theta_13 with unprecedented precision.

Findings

Civil construction completed in 2007

First commissioning data obtained in 2009

Full data collection expected to start in late 2010

Abstract

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment is designed to determine the yet unknown neutrino mixing angle theta_13 by measuring the disappearance of electron antineutrinos from several nuclear reactor cores, using multiple underground detectors at different baselines to minimize systematic errors and to suppress the cosmogenic background. The civil construction has begun since October 2007, enabling first commissioning data in 2009, and full data taking will begin in late 2010. The planned sensitivity in sin^2 (2theta_13) of better than 0.01 at 90% CL will be achieved in three years of data-taking. I will present an overview and current status of the experiment.