Beta beams

The recent discovery of neutrino oscillations, has implications for the Standard Model of particle physics. Knowing the contribution of neutrinos to the Standard Model, needs precise measurements of the parameters governing the neutrino oscillations. The EUROnu Design Study (European Commision FP7 program) will review three facilities (the so-called Super-Beams, Beta Beams and Neutrino Factories) and perform a cost assessment that, coupled with the physics performance, will give means to the European research authorities to make a decision on future European neutrino oscillation facility. “Beta Beams” produce collimated pure electron (anti)neutrino by accelerating beta active ions to high energies and having them decay in a storage ring. EUROnu Beta Beams are based on CERN’s infrastructure and existing machines. Using existing machines is an advantage for the cost evaluation, however, this choice is also constraining the Beta Beams. After a brief introduction to beta beams, recent work to make the Beta Beam facility a solid option will be mentioned: tuning of beta beam parameters to give high fluxes and to enhance the physics reach (production of Beta Beam isotopes, the 60 GHz pulsed ECR source development, the integration into the LHC-upgrades, ensure the high intensity ion beam stability).