Oscillations and Cross Sections at the SNS with a Large Cerenkov Detector

Abstract

MiniBooNE at FermiLab should be able to confirm or refute the LSND Decay-in-Flight $ν_μ\to ν_e$ oscillation signal within a few years. The primary evidence of neutrino oscillations from the LSND was in the anti-neutrino channel $\barν_μ\to \barν_e$ channel, which may not be accessible at MiniBooNE for many years. The rates of signal and background are presented for a MiniBooNE style detector with a 250 ton mineral oil fiducial mass ($\sim$300m$^3$ fiducial volume) placed 60 meters from the Oak Ridge SNS beam stop. Several hundred $\barν_μ\to \barν_e$ events could be measured in one beam year, even at the conservative end of the combined analysis of LSND and KARMEN. The same detector could easily measure neutrino-nucleus cross sections if filled with any interesting transparent fluid, several of which are suggested here. The rate and backgrounds for a methylene iodide filled detector are also presented as an example.