T2K near detectors

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The T2K (Tokai to Kamioka) experiment is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment under construction in Japan.  T2K will study the oscillation of a high intensity muon neutrino beam that is created at the JPARC accelerator in Tokai, and pointed towards the Super-Kamiokande detector over 295 km away.  A set of near detectors in Tokai will measure the neutrino beam's energy spectrum, flux, and backgrounds before the neutrinos have had a chance to oscillate. These measurements will then be compared to the neutrino beam properties after it arrives at Super-Kamiokande.  The result is a measurement of the probability as a function of the neutrino's energy that it changes from a muon neutrino into another kind of neutrino. We especially hope to observe muon neutrinos turning into electron neutrinos, which has never before been seen.  Measuring this rare process will determine the neutrino "mixing angle" theta_13, which is one of the few fundamental parameters of particle physics that has never been measured before.  The Canadian T2K group has been entrusted with construction of the near detector's tracker and proton beam monitor.  This grant requests salary, travel, and R&D support for the activities of the Canadian T2K group.