Status and Prospects of the JSNS2 Experiment

Abstract

The JSNS$^2$ experiment aims to search for the existence of neutrino oscillations with $Δ{\rm m}^2$ near 1 eV$^2$ at the J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF). A 3~GeV 1~MW proton beam incident on a mercury target produces an intense neutrino source from muon decay at rest ($μ^{+} \rightarrow e^{+} + \barν_μ + ν_{e}$). The oscillation to be searched for is $\barν_μ$ to $\barν_{e}$, detected via the inverse beta decay~(IBD) reaction ($\barν_{e} + p \rightarrow e^{+} + n$), which is then distinctively tagged by gammas from neutron capture of Gadolinium. The first of two detectors with 17 tons fiducial volume is currently under construction at a distance of 24 m from the mercury target. JSNS$^2$ is expected to provide the ultimate test of the LSND anomaly by replicating nearly identical conditions. The status of the experiment, which is expected to start taking data in Spring 2019, is discussed and its physics potential reviewed.

4 page, 1 table, 2 figures, ICHEP2018 conference