SOX: Search for sterile neutrinos with Borexino

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Tobias Lachenmaier; Professor Dr. Michael Wurm
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271968616

Most of the data of neutrino oscillation experiments can be consistently described by oscillations between the three active neutrino flavors. However, several experiments have found deviations from the predictions of the three-flavor-scenario that might point to the existence of sterile neutrinos. The SOX project is dedicated to the search for these novel neutrinos, aiming to be the first experiment unambiguously verifying or refuting the existence of sterile neutrinos as cause for these anomalies. Therefore, an intense radioactive antineutrino source will be deployed close to the Borexino detector to perform a short-baseline oscillation experiment. The applicants aim to contribute to this fascinating project: We will perform the calibration for a calorimetric measurement of the source activity and will engage in data analysis by investigating detector backgrounds and systematics. Both aspects will significantly enhance the sensitivity for the sterile neutrino search.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants