Enhancing DUNE’s Solar Neutrino Capabilities with Neutral-Current Detection
We show that the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) has the potential to make a precise measurement of the total active flux of ^{8}B solar neutrinos via neutral-current (NC) interactions with argon. This would complement proposed precise measurements of solar-neutrino fluxes in DUNE via charged-current (CC) interactions with argon and mixed CC/NC interactions with electrons. Together, these would enable DUNE to make a Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO)-like comparison of rates and thus to make the most precise measurements of sin^{2}θ_{12} and Δm_{21}^{2} using solar neutrinos. Realizing this potential requires dedicated but realistic efforts to improve DUNE's low-energy capabilities and separately to reduce neutrino-argon cross-section uncertainties. Comparison of mixing-parameter results obtained using solar neutrinos in DUNE and reactor antineutrinos in the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) would allow for unprecedented tests of new physics.
Authors
- Nicole F. Bell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5805-9828)
- S. Meighen-Berger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6579-2000)
- Jayden L. Newstead (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8704-3550)
- Matthew J. Dolan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3420-8718)
- J. F. Beacom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0005-2631)
Institutions
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics (AU)
- The Ohio State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2025-06-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/htfm-tbdq
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Neutrino Physics Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.74
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- University of Melbourne
- Australian Research Council