Long-Baseline Study of the Leading Neutrino Oscillation at a Neutrino Factory

Abstract

Within the framework of three-flavor neutrino oscillations, we consider the physics potential of ν_e --> ν_μappearance and ν_μ--> ν_μsurvival measurements at a neutrino factory for a leading oscillation scale δm^2 ~ 3.5 \times 10^{-3} eV^2. Event rates are evaluated versus baseline and stored muon energy, and optimal values discussed. Over a sizeable region of oscillation parameter space, matter effects would enable the sign of δm^2 to be determined from a comparison of ν_e --> ν_μwith \barν_e --> \barν_μevent rates and energy distributions. It is important, therefore, that both positive and negative muons can be stored in the ring. Measurements of the ν_μ--> ν_μsurvival spectrum could determine the magnitude of δm^2 and the leading oscillation amplitude with a precision of O(1%--2%).