Bridging funds for LBNE-UK
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Abstract
In recent years we have learnt a great deal about the properties of the elusive neutrino from accelerator experiments where a beam of neutrinos is fired over distances of hundreds of miles and their rare interactions are detected in large deep underground experiments. As the propagate over large distances neutrinos change flavour and by studying these neutrino oscillations we can learn a lot about their nature. The next generation of long baseline (LBL) neutrino oscillation experiments will address one of the most crucial questions in particle physics: is CP violated in the neutrino sector? If this is the case, that it would represent a breakthrough discovery with the potential to explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe through the process called leptogenesis.
LBNE is the US flagship next generation neutrino oscillation project. It will send a neutrino beam 1300 km from Fermilab towards a large Liquid Argon (LAr) detector located in South Dakota. In 2012 LBNE received US DoE CD-1 approval with a provisional budget of $867M and CD-2/CD-3 approval is expected by 2017, with start of data taking planned for 2023. This proposal is for initial bridging funds for 9 months, which will allow the UK to retain and build on existing leadership in this crucial period that will see first operations in 2014 of both the LBNE 35 ton prototype detector and the first neutrino beam interactions in the MicroBooNE detector; these are significant steps towards the full LBNE LAr far detector.
LBNE is the US flagship next generation neutrino oscillation project. It will send a neutrino beam 1300 km from Fermilab towards a large Liquid Argon (LAr) detector located in South Dakota. In 2012 LBNE received US DoE CD-1 approval with a provisional budget of $867M and CD-2/CD-3 approval is expected by 2017, with start of data taking planned for 2023. This proposal is for initial bridging funds for 9 months, which will allow the UK to retain and build on existing leadership in this crucial period that will see first operations in 2014 of both the LBNE 35 ton prototype detector and the first neutrino beam interactions in the MicroBooNE detector; these are significant steps towards the full LBNE LAr far detector.
Planned Impact
The project is for short-term investment in to the next-generation LBL neutrino experiment, which in the coming decade will be one of a small number of large-scale particle physics projects. Investment at this stage will secure leadership with potential downstream benefits to UK science (through public engagement with this large-scale cutting edge project) and with UK industry through a potential multi-million pound investment in the LBNE far detector construction.
Publications
Adams D
(2018)
Photon detector system timing performance in the DUNE 35-ton prototype liquid argon time projection chamber
in Journal of Instrumentation
Description | The initial design of the DAQ for LBNE/DUNE was developed and the UK groups integrated into the international team. |
Exploitation Route | This was a short grant aimed at integrating our team into the international team and was followed up by a larger and longer grant for LBNE. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
Description | The Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Sussex runs an intense outreach programme, closely linked to the research carried out within the Department. Our WWW is http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach. Our activities not only involve research talks, but also hands on activities that introduce the basics of our research to the public. We work with members of the general public, and school and college students. We work with over 12,000 people per year, two-thirds of who are children of school age. We interact through stands at various science fairs and in classroom-type setting (including our travelling planetarium). |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Other |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | DUNE: Pre-Construction Phase |
Amount | £72,369 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R000085/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | DUNE collaboration |
Organisation | Fermilab - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |
Department | DUNE |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | R&D towards the DUNE experiment. |
Collaborator Contribution | R&D towards the DUNE experiment. |
Impact | Progress towards realising the DUNE experiment. The US DOE has approved construction of the Far detector facility. |
Start Year | 2015 |