Neutrino Physics at MIT

最近关于电子味中微子的研究提出了许多有趣的问题。例如，在短基线处是否有电子中微子出现？与电子味相关的丢失的混合矩阵参数的大小是多少？在轻中微子区是否存在CP破坏，这是通过电子中微子的出现来探索的？这些问题被确定为推进中微子物理领域知识的重中之重。该奖项为学生和博士后提供了一系列中微子实验的支持，这些实验被选择为分阶段进行：MiniBooNE，SciBooNE，Double Booz，MicroBooNE和DAEDALUS。选择这些实验是为了具有智力上的连贯性，并允许小组中的学生和博士后在麻省理工学院的职业生涯中体验实验工作的各个阶段。麻省理工学院在MiniBooNE振荡分析和开发涉及无菌中微子的相关唯象模型方面发挥着核心作用。MiniBooNE的结果激发了人们对下一代短基线实验的兴趣，包括MicroBooNE实验，该实验将利用最先进的液态氩技术解决MiniBooNE事件的过度问题。麻省理工学院负责提供MicroBooNE上的光收集系统，并负责研发用于未来大型LAr探测器的第一个基于光导的探测系统。该小组在美国对双中微子数据的最后中微子混合角的分析中发挥了主导作用。麻省理工学院专门从事双中子监测，该奖项为一种新型定向中子监测器DCTPC提供支持，该监测器将在本赠款期内建造。DAEDALUS拥有多个光束和单个探测器，是麻省理工学院团队如何发展变革性想法的一个例子。更广泛的影响：PI致力于扩大妇女和少数民族在STEM中的参与，以及改善STEM教育和教师发展。该小组参与了许多提高公众科学素养的项目，并进行了许多公开演讲，传达了中微子物理学的兴奋。

Recent studies involving electron-flavor neutrinos have raised many interesting questions. For example, is there electron-neutrino appearance at short baseline? What is the magnitude of the missing mixing matrix parameter, associated with the electron-flavor? And is there CP violation in the light neutrino sector, which is explored through electron-neutrino appearance? These questions are identified as top priority in advancing knowledge within the neutrino physics field.This award provides support for students and postdocs on a series of neutrino experiments chosen to be phased in time: MiniBooNE, SciBooNE, Double Chooz, MicroBooNE and DAEDALUS. These experiments are selected to have intellectual coherence and to allow the students and postdocs in the group to experience all stages of experimental work within their careers at MIT. MIT has a central role in the MiniBooNE oscillation analysis and in developing associated phenomenological models involving sterile neutrinos. The MiniBooNE results have excited interest in next generation short-baseline experiments, including the MicroBooNE experiment that will address the MiniBooNE event excesses with state-of-the-art liquid argon technology. MIT is responsible for delivering the light collection system on MicroBooNE and for R&D on the first lightguide-based detection system for future large LAr detectors. The group plays a leading role in the US-based analysis of the last neutrino mixing angle from the Double Chooz data. MIT has specialized in monitoring on Double Chooz and this award provides support for a novel directional neutron monitor, DCTPC, which will be constructed in this grant period. DAEDALUS, with its multiple beams and single detector, is an example of how the MIT group develops transformative ideas. Broader Impacts: The PI is dedicated to expanding participation of women and minorities in STEM, as well as improving STEM education and teacher development. The group is involved in numerous projects to increase public scientific literacy and gives many public talks, communicating the excitement of neutrino physics.