Exploring new features of neutrino oscillations with very low energy monoenergetic neutrinos

TL;DR

This paper proposes using low-energy monoenergetic neutrinos from electron capture to study neutrino oscillations, aiming to precisely measure the mixing angle theta13 and explore CP violation, despite low event rates.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach employing low-energy monoenergetic neutrinos for detailed neutrino oscillation studies and parameter measurement.

Findings

Oscillation lengths can be fully observed within the detector due to low neutrino energy.

Potential to improve measurements or limits on the mixing angle theta13.

Feasibility of using spherical gaseous and cylindrical liquid detectors with suitable sources.

Abstract

In the present work we propose to study neutrino oscillations employing sources of monoenergetic neutrinos following electron capture by the nucleus. Since the neutrino energy is very low the smaller of the two oscillation lengths, L23, appearing in this electronic neutrino disappearance experiment can be so small that the full oscillation can take place inside the detector and one may determine very accurately the neutrino oscillation parameters. Since in this case the oscillation probability is proportional to theta13, one can measure or set a better limit on the unknown parameter theta13. This is quite important, since, if this mixing angle vanishes, there is not going to be CP violation in the leptonic sector. The best way to detect it is by measuring electron recoils in neutrino-electron scattering. One, however, has to pay the price that the expected counting rates are very small. Thus one needs a very intensive neutrino source and a large detector with as low as possible energy threshold and high energy and position resolution. Both spherical gaseous and cylindrical liquid detectors are studied. Different source candidates are considered.