Matter Density Profile Shape Effects at DUNE

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the shape and normalization of Earth's matter density profile affect neutrino oscillation measurements at DUNE, and assesses the potential to measure Earth's density and improve oscillation parameter accuracy.

Contribution

It analyzes the sensitivity of DUNE to matter density profile shape and normalization, and evaluates the effectiveness of a perturbative calculation method for neutrino oscillations.

Findings

DUNE can measure matter density profile shape and normalization.

Perturbative method is suitable for DUNE's oscillation calculations.

Measuring Earth's density can improve neutrino oscillation parameter precision.

Abstract

Quantum mechanical interactions between neutrinos and matter along the path of propagation, the Wolfenstein matter effect, are of particular importance for the upcoming long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, specifically the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Here, we explore specifically what about the matter density profile can be measured by DUNE, considering both the shape and normalization of the profile between the neutrinos' origin and detection. Additionally, we explore the capability of a perturbative method for calculating neutrino oscillation probabilities and whether this method is suitable for DUNE. We also briefly quantitatively explore the ability of DUNE to measure the Earth's matter density, and the impact of performing this measurement on measuring standard neutrino oscillation parameters.