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Title: Probing neutrino quantum decoherence at reactor experiments
A bstract We explore how well reactor antineutrino experiments can constrain or measure the loss of quantum coherence in neutrino oscillations. We assume that decoherence effects are encoded in the size of the neutrino wave-packet, σ . We find that the current experiments Daya Bay and the Reactor Experiment for Neutrino Oscillation (RENO) already constrain σ > 1 . 0 × 10 − 4 nm and estimate that future data from the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) would be sensitive to σ < 2 . 1 × 10 − 3 nm. If the effects of loss of coherence are within the sensitivity of JUNO, we expect σ to be measured with good precision. The discovery of nontrivial decoherence effects in JUNO would indicate that our understanding of the coherence of neutrino sources is, at least, incomplete.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2020275 1630782
NSF-PAR ID:
10251082
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of High Energy Physics
Volume:
2020
Issue:
8
ISSN:
1029-8479
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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