Status of the Double Chooz Experiment

TL;DR

The Double Chooz experiment aims to measure or constrain the neutrino mixing angle theta_13 using reactor neutrino detection, with planned detector operation starting in 2009-2010 and potential to significantly improve existing limits.

Contribution

This paper presents the experimental setup, detector design, and background considerations for the Double Chooz reactor neutrino experiment, outlining its potential to measure or limit theta_13.

Findings

Expected to measure sin^2(2theta_13) down to 0.03 at 90% confidence level

Can detect sin^2(2theta_13) > 0.05 at 3 sigma with three years of data

Operation of the far detector planned for late 2009, near detector in 2010

Abstract

The Double Chooz experiment is the first of the next wave of reactor experiments searching for a non-vanishing value of the mixing angle theta_13. The experimental concept and detector design are presented, and the most pertinent backgrounds are discussed. Operation of the far detector is expected to begin by the end of 2009. Installation of the near detector will occur in 2010. Double Chooz has the capacity to measure sin^2(2theta_13) to 3 sigma if sin^2(2theta_13) >0.05 or exclude sin^2 (2theta_13) down to 0.03 at 90% for Delta m_31^2 = 2.5 x 10^-3 eV^2 with three years of data with both near and far detectors.