T2K Collaboration(Abe, K. et al), Cervera-Villanueva, A., Escudero, L., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Hansen, C., Monfregola, L., et al. (2011). Indication of Electron Neutrino Appearance from an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Muon Neutrino Beam. Phys. Rev. Lett., 107(4), 041801–8pp.
Abstract: The T2K experiment observes indications of nu(mu) -> nu(mu) e appearance in data accumulated with 1.43 x 10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector. In a three-flavor neutrino oscillation scenario with |Delta m(23)(2)| = 2.4 x 10(-3) eV(2), sin(2)2 theta(23) = 1 and sin(2)2 theta(13) = 0, the expected number of such events is 1.5 +/- 0.3(syst). Under this hypothesis, the probability to observe six or more candidate events is 7 x 10(-3), equivalent to 2.5 sigma significance. At 90% C.L., the data are consistent with 0.03(0.04) < sin(2)2 theta(13) < 0.28(0.34) for delta(CP) = 0 and a normal (inverted) hierarchy.
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SciBooNE Collaboration(Cheng, G. et al), Catala-Perez, J., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., & Sorel, M. (2011). Measurement of K(+) production cross section by 8 GeV protons using high-energy neutrino interactions in the SciBooNE detector. Phys. Rev. D, 84(1), 012009–22pp.
Abstract: The SciBooNE Collaboration reports K(+) production cross section and rate measurements using high-energy daughter muon neutrino scattering data off the SciBar polystyrene (C(8)H(8)) target in the SciBooNE detector. The K(+) mesons are produced by 8 GeV protons striking a beryllium target in Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam line (BNB). Using observed neutrino and antineutrino events in SciBooNE, we measure d(2)sigma/dpd Omega = (5.34 +/- 0.76) mb/(GeV/c x sr) for p + Be -> K(+) + X at mean K(+) energy of 3.9 GeVand angle (with respect to the proton beam direction) of 3.7 degrees, corresponding to the selected K(+) sample. Compared to Monte Carlo predictions using previous higher energy K(+) production measurements, this measurement, which uses the NUANCE neutrino interaction generator, is consistent with a normalization factor of 0.85 +/- 0.12. This agreement is evidence that the extrapolation of the higher energy K(+) measurements to an 8 GeV beam energy using Feynman scaling is valid. This measurement reduces the error on the K(+) production cross section from 40% to 14%.
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SciBooNE and MiniBooNE collaborations(Mahn, K. B. M. et al), Catala-Perez, J., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., & Sorel, M. (2012). Dual baseline search for muon neutrino disappearance at 0.5 eV(2) < Delta m(2) < 40 eV(2). Phys. Rev. D, 85(3), 032007–10pp.
Abstract: The SciBooNE and MiniBooNE collaborations report the results of a nu(mu) disappearance search in the Delta m(2) region of 0.5-40 eV(2). The neutrino rate as measured by the SciBooNE tracking detectors is used to constrain the rate at the MiniBooNE Cherenkov detector in the first joint analysis of data from both collaborations. Two separate analyses of the combined data samples set 90% confidence level (CL) limits on nu(mu) disappearance in the 0.5-40 eV(2) Delta m(2) region, with an improvement over previous experimental constraints between 10 and 30 eV(2).
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T2K Collaboration(Abe, K. et al), Cervera-Villanueva, A., Escudero, L., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Hansen, C., Monfregola, L., et al. (2012). First muon-neutrino disappearance study with an off-axis beam. Phys. Rev. D, 85(3), 031103–8pp.
Abstract: We report a measurement of muon-neutrino disappearance in the T2K experiment. The 295-km muon-neutrino beam from Tokai to Kamioka is the first implementation of the off-axis technique in a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. With data corresponding to 1.43 x 10(20) protons on target, we observe 31 fully-contained single mu-like ring events in Super-Kamiokande, compared with an expectation of 104 +/- 14 (syst) events without neutrino oscillations. The best-fit point for two-flavor nu(mu) -> nu(tau) oscillations is sin(2)(2 theta(23)) = 0.98 and vertical bar Delta m(32)(2)vertical bar = 2.65 x 10(-3) eV(2). The boundary of the 90% confidence region includes the points sin(2)(2 theta(23)), vertical bar Delta m(32)(2)vertical bar = (1.0, 3.1 x 10(-3) eV(2)), (0.84, 2.65 x 10(-3) eV(2)) and (1.0, 2.2 x 10(-3) eV(2)).
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Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Martin-Albo, J., Mezzetto, M., Monrabal, F., & Sorel, M. (2012). The search for neutrinoless double beta decay. Riv. Nuovo Cimento, 35(2), 29–98.
Abstract: In the last two decades the search for neutrinoless double beta decay has evolved into one of the highest priorities for understanding neutrinos and the origin of mass. The main reason for this paradigm shift has been the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which clearly established the existence of massive neutrinos. An additional motivation for conducting such searches comes from the existence of an unconfirmed, but not refuted, claim of evidence for neutrinoless double decay in Ge-76. As a consequence, a new generation of experiments, employing different detection techniques and beta beta isotopes, is being actively promoted by experimental groups across the world. In addition, nuclear theorists are making remarkable progress in the calculation of the neutrinoless double beta. decay nuclear matrix elements, thus eliminating a substantial part of the theoretical uncertainties affecting the particle physics interpretation of this process. In this report, we review the main aspects of the double beta decay process and some of the most relevant experiments. The picture that emerges is one where searching for neutrinoless double beta decay is recognized to have both far-reaching theoretical implications and promising prospects for experimental observation in the near future.
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