MINOS+ Physics preparation Research Associate

MINOS+ is a very unique experiment which will look with very high precision
at the region around the neutrino oscillation maximum for any evidence that
the neutrinos do not adhere to the very simple 3x3 mixing matrix which is
analagous to the quark sector. Any non-standard interaction, be it a completely
new type of interaction, or a new type of neutrino interacting in a non-standard
way (such as a sterile neutrino) will show up in the ratio of oscillated to non-oscillated
energy spectra. This experiment will give the highest confidence level test of the
so-called standard model of neutrino interactions.

The main impact this research will have is to draw new graduate students out of the
undergraduate pool. This type of research, which may have direct benefits such as
those associated with the neutrino time of flight, or implications for corrections of
GPS systems, is mostly impactful by encouraging young people into science in school
and then later into University. More physics undergraduates can only be a good thing!