Long-baseline Neutrino Oscillations

Neutrino Oscillations

Neutrino oscillation experiments measure quantum-mechanical interference over macroscopic scales. This technique is so sensitive that we can measure the (absolute) mass difference between the three least massive particles in the Universe.

About DUNE

Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a flagship international neutrino-physics experiment that will transform our understanding of fundamental particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Hosted by the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in the United States, it employs a high-power neutrino beam generated at Fermilab which travels 1,300 km through the Earth to a giant far detector located deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota.

Key scientific objectives include:

• Determining the neutrino mass ordering and precisely measuring the CP-violating phase in the lepton sector.
• Searching for proton decay, a signature of grand-unified theories.
• Detecting and studying neutrinos from astrophysical sources, e.g., a future core-collapse supernova in our galaxy.

By pushing into previously unexplored territory in neutrino oscillations and rare processes, DUNE promises to shed light on the dominance of matter over antimatter in the Universe, and probe physics beyond the Standard Model.

UCL’s Role in DUNE

The UCL DUNE group leverages decades of experience in long-baseline neutrino experiments (including leading roles in MINOS and NOvA) and liquid-argon detector technologies. UCL plays a leading role in the design and implementation of the Data Acquisition (DAQ) and Data Quality Monitoring (DQM) systems. UCL are also involved in monitoring, calibration, detector performance studies, and beam and atmospheric neutrino analysis.

For more information, contact Prof Ryan Nichol or Dr Alex Keshavarzi.