Proposal for an Electron Antineutrino Disappearance Search Using High-Rate 8Li Production and Decay

Abstract

This paper introduces an experimental probe of the sterile neutrino with a novel, high-intensity source of electron antineutrinos from the production and subsequent decay of [superscript 8]Li. When paired with an existing ~1 kton scintillator-based detector, this (E[subscript v])=6.4 MeV source opens a wide range of possible searches for beyond standard model physics via studies of the inverse beta decay interaction ν̅[subscript e]+p→[superscript +]+n. In particular, the experimental design described here has unprecedented sensitivity to ν[subscript e] disappearance at Δm[superscript 2]~1 eV[superscript 2] and features the ability to distinguish between the existence of zero, one, and two sterile neutrinos.