Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2014
Volume 59, Number 5
Saturday–Tuesday, April 5–8, 2014; Savannah, Georgia
Session K3: Invited Session: Search for Sterile Neutrinos |
Hide Abstracts |
Sponsoring Units: DNP Chair: Sam Zeller, Fermi National Laboratory Room: Chatham Ballroom B |
Sunday, April 6, 2014 1:30PM - 2:06PM |
K3.00001: Systematic Uncertainty in the Analysis of the Reactor Neutrino Anomaly Invited Speaker: Anna Hayes We examine uncertainties in the analysis of the reactor neutrino anomaly, wherein it is suggested that only about 94\% of the emitted antineutrino flux was detected in short baseline experiments. We find that the form of the corrections that lead to the anomaly are very uncertain for the 30\% of the flux that arises from forbidden decays. This uncertainty was estimated in four ways, is larger than the size of the anomaly, and is unlikely to be reduced without accurate direct measurements of the antineutrino flux. Given the present lack of detailed knowledge of the structure of the forbidden transitions, it is not possible to convert the measured aggregate fission beta spectra to antineutrino spectra to the accuracy needed to infer an anomaly. Neutrino physics conclusions based on the original anomaly need to be revisited, as do oscillation analyses that assumed that the antineutrino flux is known to better than approximately $5\%$. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, April 6, 2014 2:06PM - 2:42PM |
K3.00002: MiniBooNE Results and the future of Sterile Neutrino Searches Invited Speaker: Heather Ray There exists a need to address and resolve the growing evidence for short-baseline neutrino oscillations and the possible existence of sterile neutrinos. Such non-standard particles were first invoked to explain the LSND anti-$\nu_{\mu}$ to anti-$\nu_e$ appearance signal. A follow up experiment, MiniBooNE, has observed a 3.8 $\sigma$ excess of events in the 200-1250 MeV oscillation energy range that is consistent with the LSND signal. In addition, lower than expected neutrino induced event rates using calibrated radioactive sources and nuclear reactors can also be explained by the existence of sterile neutrinos. This talk will introduce the motivation for $\sim$1 eV/$c^2$ mass sterile neutrinos, discuss latest search results, and short-term and long-term plans to hunt for this mysterious particle. [Preview Abstract] |
Sunday, April 6, 2014 2:42PM - 3:18PM |
K3.00003: Cosmological and Astrophysical Implications of Sterile neutrinos Invited Speaker: Kevork Abazajian Cosmology has entered an even more precision-driven epoch, with many of the basic parameters of cosmology being known to the few-percent level. However, some unresolved tensions remain between large scale structure measures of cosmology and primary cosmic microwave background measures. This may indicate new physics in the neutrino sector, since neutrinos are the second most abundant particle in the Universe, and the least quantified. New neutrino physics may include extra (sterile) species of neutrinos, massive neutrinos, or both. I will review the status of these measures as well as the prospects for the resolution of the tension(s). Neutrinos also play a dominant energetics role in Type II supernova explosions, and the presence of new neutrino physics also has implications for supernova physics, which I will also review. [Preview Abstract] |
Follow Us |
Engage
Become an APS Member |
My APS
Renew Membership |
Information for |
About APSThe American Physical Society (APS) is a non-profit membership organization working to advance the knowledge of physics. |
© 2024 American Physical Society
| All rights reserved | Terms of Use
| Contact Us
Headquarters
1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844
(301) 209-3200
Editorial Office
100 Motor Pkwy, Suite 110, Hauppauge, NY 11788
(631) 591-4000
Office of Public Affairs
529 14th St NW, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20045-2001
(202) 662-8700