We propose the first experimental test of the inelastic boosted dark matter hypothesis, capitalizing on the new physics potential with the imminent data taking of the ProtoDUNE detectors. More specifically, we explore various experimental signatures
at the cosmic frontier, arising in boosted dark matter scenarios, i.e., relativistic, inelastic scattering of boosted dark matter often created by the annihilation of its heavier component which usually comprises of the dominant relic abundance. Although features are unique enough to isolate signal events from potential backgrounds, vetoing a vast amount of cosmic background is rather challenging as the detectors are located on the ground. We argue, with a careful estimate, that such backgrounds nevertheless can be well under control by performing dedicated analyses after data acquisition. We then discuss some phenomenological studies which can be achieved with ProtoDUNE, employing a dark photon scenario as our benchmark dark-sector model.
We study the effects of non-standard interactions on the oscillation pattern of atmospheric neutrinos. We use neutrino oscillograms as our main tool to infer the role of non-standard interactions (NSI) parameters at the probability level in the energ
y range, $E in [1,20]$ GeV and zenith angle range, $cos theta in [-1,0]$. We compute the event rates for atmospheric neutrino events in presence of NSI parameters in the energy range $E in [1,10]$ GeV for two different detector configurations - a magnetized iron calorimeter and an unmagnetized liquid Argon time projection chamber which have different sensitivities to NSI parameters due to their complementary characteristics. As an application, we discuss how NSI parameter, $epsilon_{mutau}$ impacts the determination of the correct octant of $theta_{23}$.
The magnetised Iron CALorimeter detector (ICAL), proposed to be built at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), is designed to study atmospheric neutrino oscillations. The ICAL detector is optimized to measure the muon momentum, its direction an
d charge. A GEANT4-based package has been developed by the INO collaboration to simulate the ICAL geometry and propagation of particles through the detector. The simulated muon tracks are reconstructed using the Kalman Filter algorithm. Here we present the first study of the response of the ICAL detector to muons using this simulations package to determine the muon momentum and direction resolutions as well as their reconstruction and charge identification efficiencies. For 1-20 GeV/c muons in the central region of the detector, we obtain an average angle-dependent momentum resolution of 9-14%, an angular resolution of about a degree, reconstruction efficiency of about 80% and a correct charge identification of about 98%.
The IceCube collaboration has recently announced the discovery of ultra-high energy neutrino events. These neutrinos can be used to probe their production source, as well as leptonic mixing parameters. In this work, we have used the first IceCube dat
a to constrain the leptonic CP violating phase $delta_{cp}$. For this, we have analyzed the data in the form of flux ratios. We find that the fit to $delta_{cp}$ depends on the assumptions made on the production mechanism of these astrophyscial neutrinos. Consequently, we also use this data to impose constraints on the sources of the neutrinos.
We study the neutrino oscillation physics performance of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) in various configurations. In particular, we compare the case of a surface detector at the far site augmented by a near detector, to that with the f
ar site detector placed deep underground but no near detector. In the latter case, information from atmospheric neutrino events is also utilized. For values of theta_{13} favored by reactor experiments and a 100 kt-yr exposure, we find roughly equivalent sensitivities to the neutrino mass hierarchy, the octant of theta_{23}, and to CP violation. We also find that as the exposure is increased, the near detector helps increase the sensitivity to CP violation substantially more than atmospheric neutrinos.
One of the unknown parameters in neutrino oscillations is the octant of the mixing angle theta_{23}. In this paper, we discuss the possibility of determining the octant of theta_{23} in the long baseline experiments T2K and NOvA in conjunction with f
uture atmospheric neutrino detectors, in light of non-zero value of theta_{13} measured by reactor experiments. We consider two detector technologies for atmospheric neutrinos - magnetized iron calorimeter and non-magnetized Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber. We present the octant sensitivity for T2K/NOvA and atmospheric neutrino experiments separately as well as combined. For the long baseline experiments, a precise measurement of theta_{13}, which can exclude degenerate solutions in the wrong octant, increases the sensitivity drastically. For theta_{23} = 39^o and sin^2 2 theta_{13} = 0.1, at least ~2 sigma sensitivity can be achieved by T2K+NOvA for all values of delta_{CP} for both normal and inverted hierarchy. For atmospheric neutrinos, the moderately large value of theta_{13} measured in the reactor experiments is conducive to octant sensitivity because of enhanced matter effects. A magnetized iron detector can give a 2 sigma octant sensitivity for 500 kT yr exposure for theta_{23} = 39^o, delta_{CP} = 0 and normal hierarchy. This increases to 3 sigma for both hierarchies by combining with T2K+NOvA. This is due to a preference of different theta_{23} values at the minimum chi^2 by T2K/NOvA and atmospheric neutrino experiments. A Liquid Argon detector for atmospheric neutrinos with the same exposure can give higher octant sensitivity, due to the interplay of muon and electron contributions and superior resolutions. We obtain a ~3 sigma sensitivity for theta_{23} = 39^o for normal hierarchy. This increases to > ~4 sigma for all values of delta_{CP} if combined with T2K+NOvA. For inverted hierarchy the combined sensitivity is ~3 sigma.
