Optimal configurations of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the optimal configurations of the DUNE experiment to maximize its sensitivity to neutrino properties, considering various detector and systematic parameters.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of how different experimental setups affect DUNE's ability to resolve key neutrino physics questions.

Findings

A 35 kt detector with a near detector can resolve parameter degeneracies.

DUNE can achieve primary oscillation physics goals with optimized configurations.

Sensitivity depends on detector size, beam power, and systematic uncertainties.

Abstract

We perform a comprehensive study of the ability of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) to answer outstanding questions in the neutrino sector. We consider the sensitivities to the mass hierarchy, the octant of \theta_{23} and to CP violation using data from beam and atmospheric neutrinos. We evaluate the dependencies on the precision with which \theta_{13} will be measured by reactor experiments, on the detector size, beam power and exposure time, on detector magnetization, and on the systematic uncertainties achievable with and without a near detector. We find that a 35 kt far detector in DUNE with a near detector will resolve the eight-fold degeneracy that is intrinsic to long baseline experiments and will meet the primary goals of oscillation physics that it is designed for.