Neutrinos exposed: from the cosmos to deep underground

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The Standard Model (SM) of Particle Physics describes many of the universe's fundamental laws with high precision, yet it still fails to explain certain observations. The most glaring deviation from the SM is the Canadian-Japanese Nobel-prize winning discovery that revealed that one flavor of neutrino can oscillate into another. Another observation the SM cannot explain is the fact that the universe is filled with matter and not just light, the product of matter-antimatter annihilation. Furthermore, there are hints of additional neutrinos or exotic interactions not predicted by the SM. Observing a violation of the matter-antimatter symmetry by neutrinos would be a groundbreaking discovery and could explain the matter that remains today. Moreover, measurements of supernova neutrinos will be key to understand the dynamics of supernovae and provide more information on neutrinos. A global effort is underway to make the next breakthrough in neutrino physics by measuring the details of neutrino masses and how neutrinos change over time. To maintain Canada's world-leading reputation in neutrino physics, participation in this effort is essential. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) represents a bold step forward with a new detector technology and the ability to measure neutrinos over an extremely broad energy range. Poised to start in 2024, DUNE will consist of two massive detectors: one located at Fermilab in Illinois, and one located 1300 km away in South Dakota. DUNE will use neutrino beams with energy spectra broader than any other experiment. This spectrum offers a unique opportunity to measure the nature of the neutrino masses, to quantify the matter-antimatter symmetry violation, and to potentially discover additional neutrinos. In addition, the Far Detector will be sensitive to atmospheric and supernovae neutrinos. The success of DUNE relies on several components: a robust plan for detector calibration, careful design for the data acquisition components, and a program to ensure precise accelerator-beam measurements: a stable neutrino beam and accurate models of how neutrinos interact.  This proposal provides important input in these areas that take advantage of the PI's expertise, and more broadly the Canadian expertise that has been so crucial in the ATLAS and T2K experiments. This year Deborah Harris and Claire David started at York University as full and assistant Professors, and Nikolina Ilic started as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and an Institute of Particle Physics Research Scientist. This proposal supports a team that will collaborate internationally in both detector development and physics analysis, to benefit DUNE.  The team supported by this grant will collaborate internationally, using high performance computing to simulate and analyze data. They will use that experience both to take the next leap forward in neutrino physics and to prepare for the next steps in their careers.