Sterile Neutrino Search Using China Advanced Research Reactor

Abstract

We study the feasibility of a sterile neutrino search at the China Advanced Research Reactor by measuring $\bar {\nu}_e$ survival probability with a baseline of less than 15 m. Both hydrogen and deuteron have been considered as potential targets. The sensitivity to sterile-to-regular neutrino mixing is investigated under the "3(active)+1(sterile)" framework. We find that the mixing parameter $\sin^2(2\theta_{14})$ can be severely constrained by such measurement if the mass square difference $\Delta m_{14}^2$ is of the order of $\sim$1 eV$^2$.