UNOS · Unifying Neutrino Observatories Searches
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-05-01 → 2024-04-29
- EU contribution
- €204,416
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Unifying Neutrino Observatories Searches
The existence of additional neutrinos mass eigenstates is one of the open questions in Particle Physics. Several experiments have measured anomalous neutrino oscillations that the presence of a fourth neutrino could explain. The preferred mass splitting from these anomalies is in the region between 1 to 10 eV2. The project Unifying Neutrino Observatories Searches aims to probe sterile neutrinos in the 0.1-10 eV2 mass splitting regime. The primary analysis uses atmospheric neutrinos with TeV energies detected with neutrino telescopes. UNOS set out several scientific objectives: (a) to enhance simulation tools, focusing on implementing new neutrino cross-section models in the TeV energy range; (b) to investigate new observables and data samples to enhance sensitivity to sterile neutrinos with neutrino telescopes; and (c) to update sterile neutrino searches through a newly developed analysis framework. The project delivered several outcomes. First, it introduced new models for simulating neutrino interactions across energies from GeV to EeV. Second, it upgraded a fitting framework to enable atmospheric neutrino experiments to test scenarios beyond the standard model in a standardized manner. Third, it introduced a new search for sterile neutrinos using neutrino telescopes. The project has achieved world-leading constraints on sterile neutrinos by leveraging data from the IceCube collaboration. The findings of this analysis are highly significant for the field, sparking discussions among phenomenologists and theorists about its implications for the sterile neutrino landscape. Additionally, for the first time, the project has calculated the sensitivity of the KM3NeT-ARCA detector to sterile neutrinos using high-energy atmospheric neutrinos.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
One of the main unknowns in Particle Physics is the mechanism behind masses and mixings in the neutrino sector. Consequently, it is natural to view neutrinos as a window to New Physics. Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) models explaining the masses and mixing parameters often predict new generation(s) of neutrinos and novel types of interactions with matter, known as Sterile Neutrinos (SN) and Non Standard Interactions (NSI) respectively. The objective of this proposal is to experimentally test those predictions, thereby elucidating the fundamental nature of neutrinos. In fact, by measuring and characterising the flux of atmospheric neutrinos, neutrino telescopes can experimentally constrain SN and NSI models, and hence Unifying Neutrino Observatories Searches (UNOS) is a unique project that aims to search for those BSM candidates.Neutrinos are distinctive particles as they interact very weakly, so they can transit long paths through the Earth. Cosmic-ray-induced air showers produce those particles in the atmosphere over a wide energy range, providing a ""naturally"" occurring flux that cannot be produced in any man-made neutrino beam. Actually, in 2015, the discovery of neutrino oscillations studying atmospheric (and solar) neutrinos, was awarded Nobel Prize in Physics.Neutrino telescopes consist of a grid of optical sensors placed several kilometres under water or ice. Neutrinos are detected by capturing the Cherenkov light induced by the charged particles produced by neutrino interactions in the medium. UNOS will exploit four of those detectors constructed by two international collaborations, IceCube and KM3NeT, to provide world-leading constraints on SN and NSI models. Harvard University and Universitat de Valencia will join efforts to support and train Dr. Garcia throughout this ambitious enterprise.""
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA · ValenciaCoordinatorSpain
- PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE · CambridgeUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union