Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2012
Volume 57, Number 3
Saturday–Tuesday, March 31–April 3 2012; Atlanta, Georgia
Session Q2: Invited Session: Neutrinos: The Precision Frontier |
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Sponsoring Units: DPF DNP Chair: Kate Scholberg, Duke University Room: Regency Ballroom V |
Monday, April 2, 2012 10:45AM - 11:21AM |
Q2.00001: What's up with neutrinos? ({\ldots}and what can we do about it?) Invited Speaker: Robert Svoboda We now know that neutrinos have some very fundamental differences with other particles of the Standard Model. Firstly, except for the photon they are the only electrically neutral stable particle we know exists for sure (could dark matter be another?). This leads to the curious fact that there are two possible forms for the neutrino that both solve the Dirac equation and are Lorentz invariant. Which form is the real neutrino and how might this affect our view of the nature of mass itself? In addition, we now know that neutrinos have a non-zero mass via the phenomenon of neutrino oscillations -- essentially quantum interferometry over macroscopic distance scales of hundreds of kilometers. This type of measurement is made possible only by the fact that neutrino interaction eigenstates are profoundly different than the mass eigenstates, the nature of which is not really understood at a fundamental level. As if this was not enough, ``sterile'' and ``superluminal'' neutrinos are now being seriously discussed based on recent experimental indications. This presentation gives an up-to-date summary of what we know about neutrinos, how we know it, and what the current experimental issues are. In addition, it will cover how new accelerator-based experiments will address some of the most outstanding questions, while at the same time allow us to begin to exploit more fully the neutrino as a probe in other areas of science and technology. [Preview Abstract] |
Monday, April 2, 2012 11:21AM - 11:57AM |
Q2.00002: Physics with Reactor Neutrinos: The Show has Begun! Invited Speaker: Lindley Winslow The next generation of reactor neutrino experiments started with the first Double Chooz result earlier this year and will continue with the RENO and Daya Bay experiments. The main goal of these experiments is the search for the last unknown mixing angle governing neutrino oscillations $\theta_{13}$. The results of these experiments will complete our picture of neutrino oscillations and are key for planning searches for CP violation. Along the way, they may teach us something about sterile neutrinos and the application of neutrinos to issues of nuclear non-proliferation. The physics and design of reactor neutrino experiments will be discussed, especially as it relates to the Double Chooz measurement of $\theta_{13}$. [Preview Abstract] |
Monday, April 2, 2012 11:57AM - 12:33PM |
Q2.00003: Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay: Where We Are and Where We're Going Invited Speaker: Lisa Kaufman The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is a rich source for new physics. The observation of this decay will lead to understanding of the absolute mass scale of neutrinos, the Majorana nature of the neutrino (whether the neutrino is its own anti-particle), and lepton number violation. Double beta decay is being investigated around the world by several experiments using different candidate isotopes. There has been much recent progress made in experimental techniques such that achieving sensitivity to neutrino masses at 50 meV and below will be possible in the near future. A summary of recent results in neutrinoless double beta decay will be presented along with future plans for these searches. [Preview Abstract] |
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