A search for neutrino-antineutrino mass inequality by means of sterile neutrino oscillometry

TL;DR

This paper proposes using large scintillation detectors like JUNO or LENA with radioactive sources to detect sterile neutrino oscillations and test CPT symmetry by searching for neutrino-antineutrino mass differences, potentially revealing CPT violations.

Contribution

It introduces a feasible experimental approach to measure neutrino-antineutrino mass inequality using existing detector setups and radioactive sources, aiming to test CPT symmetry in the leptonic sector.

Findings

Potential to detect neutrino-antineutrino mass inequality of 0.5% or larger

Experiment could be performed alongside current JUNO and RENO research

Achieves at least 5σ confidence level in detecting CPT anomalies

Abstract

The investigation of the oscillation pattern induced by the sterile neutrinos might determine the oscillation parameters, and at the same time, allow to probe CPT symmetry in the leptonic sector through neutrino-antineutrino mass inequality. We propose to use a large scintillation detector like JUNO or LENA to detect electron neutrinos and electron antineutrinos from MCi electron capture or beta decay sources. Our calculations indicate that such an experiment is realistic and could be performed in parallel to the current research plans for JUNO and RENO. Requiring at least 5$\sigma$ confidence level and assuming the values of the oscillation parameters indicated by the current global fit, we would be able to detect neutrino-antineutrino mass inequality of the order of 0.5% or larger, which would imply a signal of CPT anomalies.