Future Physics in Borexino - Towards the Detection of CNO Neutrinos and the Search for Sterile Neutrinos

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Caren Hagner
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields ; Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271934076

The Borexino experiment is the first and only experiment that has successfully determined the flux of all the major components of the solar neutrino spectrum from the pp-cycle. However, for neutrinos originating from the CNO-cycle only an upper limit could be established so far. The primary goal of this project is the improvement of methods for the background rejection in order to make a determination of the CNO neutrino flux possible. In this context, we also plan to develop new methods of charged particle tracking in liquid scintillitator. With the measurement of the CNO neutrino flux, all solar neutrinos will be observed in a single experiment on an event by event basis for the first time, which will represent a milestone in experimental solar neutrino physics.Another part of the project is the use of a high intensity neutrino source at Borexino. The primary goal is the search for sterile neutrino oscillation on short baselines. Furthermore such a neutrinos source offers the opportunity to study fundamental characteristics of neutrinos such as a possible magnetic moment.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants