Long Baseline Neutrino Physics in the U.S

TL;DR

This paper reviews long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments in the U.S., highlighting recent results from MINOS, upcoming searches by NOvA, and future plans for increased beam power at FNAL.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the U.S. long baseline neutrino program, including recent experimental results and future experimental plans and upgrades.

Findings

MINOS confirmed muon neutrino disappearance over 735 km.

NOvA will investigate neutrino mass hierarchy through flavor transition.

NuMI beam power exceeded 310 kW, with plans for further increases.

Abstract

Long baseline neutrino oscillation physics in the U.S. is centered at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), in particular at the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beamline commissioned in 2004-2005. Already, the MINOS experiment has published its first results confirming the disappearance of $\nu_\mu$'s across a 735 km baseline. The forthcoming NO$\nu$A experiment will search for the transition $\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$ and use this transition to understand the mass heirarchy of neutrinos. These, as well as other conceptual ideas for future experiments using the NuMI beam, will be discussed. The turn-on of the NuMI facility has been positive, with over 310 kW beam power achieved. Plans for increasing the beam intensity once the Main Injector accelerator is fully-dedicated to the neutrino program will be presented.