Searching for a Sterile Neutrino at J-PARC MLF: JSNS2 experiment

The search for sterile neutrinos is one of the hottest topics in the neutrino physics in this decade. The JSNS2 (J-PARC Sterile Neutrino Search at the J-PARC Spallation Neutron Source) experiment aims to search for the existence of neutrino oscillations with ∆m2 near 1eV2 at the J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF). With the 1 MW of 3 GeV proton beam created by Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) and spallation neutron target, an intense neutrino beam from muon decay at rest is available. Neutrinos come predominantly from μ+ decay : μ+→ e++ ν̄μ +νe. The oscillation to be searched for is ν̄μ to ν̄e which is detected by the inverse beta decay interaction ν̄e + p→ e++n, followed by gammas from neutron capture of Gd. The two detectors with a fiducial volume of 50 tons are located 24 meters away from the mercury target. This experiment is an ultimate direct test of the LSND anormaly.