Neutrino Physics with T2K and future experiments.
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Particle physics is concerned with the study of the fundamental particles of nature and the interactions between them. By understanding how these particles interact, insight will be gained about the origin of the Universe. To study these particles and their behaviour highly specialised detectors and equipment must be used. One such example is the Tokai to Kamioka (T2K) neutrino oscillation experiment, based in Japan.
In 2011 the T2K experiment reported evidence indicating that the third neutrino mixing angle was non-zero. With additional data in 2013, T2K confirmed electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam which provides the possibility of CP-violation in the neutrino sector of the Standard Model. I will continue to work with the T2K experiment and will focus on the measurement of Neutral Current cross-sections using data from the near detector. Such measurements are important for current and future neutrino oscillation experiments.
Future long baseline experiments are planned to investigate and quantify delta, the parameter associated with CP-violation. If delta is found to be non-zero, it could help explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe. I am currently involved with the design and optimisation of data acquisition systems for the planned HyperKamiokande experiment. Such systems will be important for HyperKamiokande and other future neutrino experiments.
In 2011 the T2K experiment reported evidence indicating that the third neutrino mixing angle was non-zero. With additional data in 2013, T2K confirmed electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam which provides the possibility of CP-violation in the neutrino sector of the Standard Model. I will continue to work with the T2K experiment and will focus on the measurement of Neutral Current cross-sections using data from the near detector. Such measurements are important for current and future neutrino oscillation experiments.
Future long baseline experiments are planned to investigate and quantify delta, the parameter associated with CP-violation. If delta is found to be non-zero, it could help explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe. I am currently involved with the design and optimisation of data acquisition systems for the planned HyperKamiokande experiment. Such systems will be important for HyperKamiokande and other future neutrino experiments.
Planned Impact
The impact of this work can be summarised as follow:
1. Increased public understanding and awareness of neutrino physics. Results from this work will be regularly communicated to members of the public via outreach events e.g. talks, open days, interviews etc.
2. Knowledge exchange with industrial and external collaborators. The development of Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems for future neutrino experiments will require collaboration with industrial and academic institutions both of whom will benefit from the exchange of ideas. Also, DAQ systems developed for neutrino experiments could have additional applications including commercial detectors and other particle physics experiments.
3. Physics community. Publication of results in journals, conferences and seminars will ensure that physicists are aware of and benefit from this research.
1. Increased public understanding and awareness of neutrino physics. Results from this work will be regularly communicated to members of the public via outreach events e.g. talks, open days, interviews etc.
2. Knowledge exchange with industrial and external collaborators. The development of Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems for future neutrino experiments will require collaboration with industrial and academic institutions both of whom will benefit from the exchange of ideas. Also, DAQ systems developed for neutrino experiments could have additional applications including commercial detectors and other particle physics experiments.
3. Physics community. Publication of results in journals, conferences and seminars will ensure that physicists are aware of and benefit from this research.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Helen Mary O'Keeffe (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abe K
(2020)
Measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current single p + production on hydrocarbon using the T2K off-axis near detector ND280
in Physical Review D
Abe K
(2014)
Observation of electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam.
in Physical review letters
Abe K
(2017)
Updated T2K measurements of muon neutrino and antineutrino disappearance using 1.5 × 1 0 21 protons on target
in Physical Review D
Abe K
(2014)
Measurement of the inclusive electron neutrino charged current cross section on carbon with the T2K near detector.
in Physical review letters
Abe K
(2016)
Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam.
in Physical review letters
Abe K
(2019)
Measurement of the muon neutrino charged-current cross sections on water, hydrocarbon and iron, and their ratios, with the T2K on-axis detectors
in Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics
Abe K
(2015)
Measurement of the ? µ charged current quasielastic cross section on carbon with the T2K on-axis neutrino beam
in Physical Review D
| Description | The T2K experiment has observed the oscillation of muon neutrinos to electron neutrinos. An important background to this search is the measurement of neutral pion production, which is currently not well known at the T2K beam energy. I am co-convener of the selection development group which oversees selection of neutrino interactions in the near detector. I have developed my own leadership skills and am now jointly responsible for the near detector physics programme. Since 2014, the experiment has taken data with muon anti-neutrinos as well as muon neutrinos. Using this data, new, world-leading limits on CP violation in the lepton sector have been derived. |
| Exploitation Route | Results obtained throughout the grant period are relevant to future and current long baseline neutrino experiments. Results from the first on-water measurement of neutral pion production in a neutrino beam have recently been published (2018). |
| Sectors | Education,Other |
| URL | http://t2k-experiment.org |
| Description | I have used findings from the T2K experiments in the following: 1. Lectures/classes given to undergraduates. 2. Postgraduate recruitment. 3. Undergraduate recruitment. 4. Outreach events including schools and the general public. 5. Nature news and views article. 6. Tours of the experiment facility in Japan. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Education |
| Description | STFC consolidated grant 2016- 2020 |
| Amount | £2,856,340 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/N000404/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2015 |
| End | 09/2019 |
| Description | T2K collaboration |
| Organisation | T2K Collaboration |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Member of the T2K collaboration since 2011 (collaboration has existed since before 2006). I am in co-convenor of the near detector pi0 group and also the systematics, selections and variations group. Through these I am a member of the "analysis steering group" which helps direct the physics focus of the experiment. I am also a near detector run coordinator (responsible person in charge of the near detector complex at set periods throughout the year) and a senior Data Acquisition and Electronics expert. I am currently supervising two PhD students working on the experiment (and affiliated with Lancaster University). One is working on the first measurement of the rate of charged current single pi0 production in the near detector and the other is developing an analysis to determine how many neutrinos in the beam were produced by pion and kaon decays. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Please see T2K website given below for full details. Collaborators choose to focus on either the beam, near detector or far detector, all of which are important for the experiment. Each member of the collaboration takes detector shifts each year to ensure data is taken. Collaborators then focus on one area of analysis (e.g. calibrations, cross sections, selections, oscillation analyses) and draw on the expertise of people within the collaboration to undertake their task. |
| Impact | Please see list of publications on T2K experiment website listed above. |
| Description | A talk or presentation - Particle Physics Masterclass (2018-2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit from sixth form students to department. Received talks and problem-based learning exercises. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | Annual particle physics masterclass, Lancaster University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Annual (STFC) particle physics masterclass attended by approximately 150+ sixth form students each year. Results from the T2K experiment were presented and the students were encouraged to ask questions. Several students came up to me during the coffee break to ask how they could get involved with the project. I am now working with one local physics teacher to enhance//update our masterclass programme for 2017 to include problem based learning exercises. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |
| Description | Article in Nature news and views about measurements of the oscillation parameter theta13. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following a conference presentation, I was approached buy an editor from Nature news and views to write an article on recent measurements of the neutrino oscillation parameter theta13. Post-publication, I received and responded to a number of questions from the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Chair of STFC PPGP(E) grant panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Appointed chair of STFC PPGP(E) grant panel. Oversees scientific assessment of particle physics grant applications to the consolidated grant scheme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://stfc.ukri.org/about-us/how-we-are-governed/advisory-boards/particle-physics-grants-panel/ |
| Description | Lancaster University Physics interview days |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Presentation abut neutrinos and the T2K experiment to applicants for undergraduate degree programmes in physics at Lancaster University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | Member of the STFC PPGP Theory grant panel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Member of the PPGP panel for the STFC. The panel reviews and decides upon applications for funding for current experiments and equipment requests for theorists in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Member of the STFC PPGP committee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Member of the PPGP panel for the STFC. The panel reviews and decides upon applications for funding for current experiments and equipment requests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
| Description | Ogden Trust Physicist of the year - invited speaker for Lancashire and Cumbria. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk about my career as a physicist and current research with the T2K experiment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Particle Physics Masterclass (2017) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit from sixth form students to department. Received talks and problem-based learning exercises. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Public lecture about neutrinos |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture at the Lancaster Story Institute as part of the Lancaster University Facutly of Science and Technology Christmas lecture series. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk about neutrinos at the Undergraduate conference for women in physics. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker to the conference for undergraduate women in physics. Talk was well received and I answered/discussed questions on neutrino physics and my career to date. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |