Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The aim of the Experimental Particle & Astroparticle Physics (EPAP) group is to address some of the
major open questions in our understanding of matter through the study of the nature of fundamental
particles. In particular, we aim to address many of the open questions in the neutrino sector. We
also continue to search for new physics, addressing phenomena including proton decay, ultra-light dark
matter and gravitational waves from astrophyiscal sources.
Through our long-standing involvement in the Japanese programme of experiments: T2K,
Super-Kamiokande and Hyper-Kamiokande, we work on precision neutrino oscillation measurements
combining both beam and atmospheric neutrino samples, aiming to ultimately understand the
contribution of leptonic CP violation towards explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our
universe. To facilitate successful measurements, we are pursuing a detailed understanding of
relevant neutrino interaction cross-sections (in particular electron neutrino cross-sections),
detector response and systematic uncertainties. We also support these efforts by developing the
computing software infrastructure required to analyse the large data volumes and maintaining the
outer detector for Super-Kamiokande.
We also play an important role in the SNO+ experiment in Canada, which will collect its main data
to search for neutrino-less double beta decay, hence probing the nature and mass of the neutrino,
during this grant period. Our work will enable this and other key measurements (such as solar and
reactor neutrino spectra that further probe oscillation parameters) through analysis coordination
and a careful study of time correlated backgrounds and detector response.
Through IceCUBE we access the very high end of the neutrino energy spectrum, preparing and
searching for new physics within, the astrophysical neutrino sample, and placing limits on Lorentz
violation from atmospheric neutrino data.
Another goal of the group is the search for proton-decay, motivated by many unified theories,
combining extensive phenomenological expertise with our experimental experience in Super-K and
Hyper-K. Further new physics will be addressed through the Atomic Interferometer Observatory
Network (AION). Our contributions to the development of this series of UK-based quantum interferometer
detectors to explore ultra-light dark matter candidates and detect gravitational waves from
astrophysical sources, will involve detailed sensitivity studies to inform the design.
major open questions in our understanding of matter through the study of the nature of fundamental
particles. In particular, we aim to address many of the open questions in the neutrino sector. We
also continue to search for new physics, addressing phenomena including proton decay, ultra-light dark
matter and gravitational waves from astrophyiscal sources.
Through our long-standing involvement in the Japanese programme of experiments: T2K,
Super-Kamiokande and Hyper-Kamiokande, we work on precision neutrino oscillation measurements
combining both beam and atmospheric neutrino samples, aiming to ultimately understand the
contribution of leptonic CP violation towards explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry of our
universe. To facilitate successful measurements, we are pursuing a detailed understanding of
relevant neutrino interaction cross-sections (in particular electron neutrino cross-sections),
detector response and systematic uncertainties. We also support these efforts by developing the
computing software infrastructure required to analyse the large data volumes and maintaining the
outer detector for Super-Kamiokande.
We also play an important role in the SNO+ experiment in Canada, which will collect its main data
to search for neutrino-less double beta decay, hence probing the nature and mass of the neutrino,
during this grant period. Our work will enable this and other key measurements (such as solar and
reactor neutrino spectra that further probe oscillation parameters) through analysis coordination
and a careful study of time correlated backgrounds and detector response.
Through IceCUBE we access the very high end of the neutrino energy spectrum, preparing and
searching for new physics within, the astrophysical neutrino sample, and placing limits on Lorentz
violation from atmospheric neutrino data.
Another goal of the group is the search for proton-decay, motivated by many unified theories,
combining extensive phenomenological expertise with our experimental experience in Super-K and
Hyper-K. Further new physics will be addressed through the Atomic Interferometer Observatory
Network (AION). Our contributions to the development of this series of UK-based quantum interferometer
detectors to explore ultra-light dark matter candidates and detect gravitational waves from
astrophysical sources, will involve detailed sensitivity studies to inform the design.
Organisations
Publications
Aguilar-Arevalo A
Addendum to the MiniBooNE Run Plab. MinneBooNE Physics in 2006
Itow Y.
(2022)
Construction status and prospects of the Hyper-Kamiokande project
in Proceedings of Science
Giampaolo A.
(2022)
Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background search at Super-Kamiokande with neutron tagging
in Proceedings of Science
Nelles A
(2023)
Direction reconstruction performance for IceCube-Gen2 Radio
Griffin S
(2023)
Electronics Design of the IceCube-Gen2 Optical Module Prototype
Abe K
(2023)
Erratum: Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande [Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 031802 (2023)].
in Physical review letters
Allega A
(2023)
Evidence of Antineutrinos from Distant Reactors Using Pure Water at SNO.
in Physical review letters
Di Lodovico F
(2023)
Experimental Considerations in Long-Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Measurements
in Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science
Abe K
(2022)
First gadolinium loading to Super-Kamiokande
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Abe K.
(2022)
Follow-up of GWTC-2 gravitational wave events with neutrinos from the Super-Kamiokande detector
in Proceedings of Science
Zsoldos S
(2022)
Geo- and reactor antineutrino sensitivity at THEIA
in The European Physical Journal C
Allega A
(2022)
Improved search for invisible modes of nucleon decay in water with the SNO + detector
in Physical Review D
Pronost G.
(2022)
Low energy radioactivity BG model in Super-Kamiokande detector from SK-IV data
in Proceedings of Science
Lees J
(2023)
Measurement of additional radiation in the initial-state-radiation processes e + e - ? µ + µ - ? and e + e - ? p + p - ? at BABAR
in Physical Review D
Shinoki M
(2023)
Measurement of the cosmogenic neutron yield in Super-Kamiokande with gadolinium loaded water
in Physical Review D
Sakai S
(2024)
Measurement of the neutrino-oxygen neutral-current quasielastic cross section using atmospheric neutrinos in the SK-Gd experiment
in Physical Review D
Abe K
(2023)
Measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters from the T2K experiment using 3.6×1021 protons on target.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields