Enhancing DUNE's Solar Neutrino Capabilities with Neutral-Current Detection

Area of Science:

• Particle physics
• Astrophysics
• Neutrino physics

Background:

• Solar neutrinos provide insights into stellar processes and fundamental physics.
• Previous experiments like SNO have precisely measured neutrino oscillations.
• The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation neutrino observatory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate DUNE's potential for precise measurement of the ^{8}B solar neutrino flux via neutral-current (NC) interactions.
• To complement existing and proposed DUNE measurements of solar neutrinos using charged-current (CC) interactions.
• To enable precise determination of neutrino mixing parameters (sin^{2}θ_{12} and Δm_{21}^{2}) using solar neutrinos.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing neutral-current (NC) interactions of solar neutrinos with argon in DUNE.
• Leveraging planned charged-current (CC) interactions with argon and mixed CC/NC interactions with electrons.
• Comparing DUNE's solar neutrino results with those from reactor antineutrino experiments like JUNO.

Main Results:

• DUNE can precisely measure the total active flux of ^{8}B solar neutrinos.
• This measurement, combined with other DUNE data, allows for SNO-like comparisons.
• Potential for unprecedented tests of new physics by comparing DUNE and JUNO results.

Conclusions:

• DUNE has significant potential to advance solar neutrino physics.
• Dedicated efforts to enhance low-energy capabilities and reduce cross-section uncertainties are crucial.
• Combined analysis of DUNE and JUNO data offers a powerful probe for new physics beyond the Standard Model.