1. Past History

Neutrino physics has had an interesting history. In 1930 Dr. Pauli postulated the existence of the (electron) neutrino, in 1956 this was confirmed by Drs. Reines and Cowan using a nuclear reactor source of antineutrinos. In 1962, a second distinct (muon) neutrino was shown to exist in a BNL experiment. For that discovery Nobel Prize was awarded to Drs. Lederman, Schwartz and Steinberger. In 1995, the third, (tau) neutrino was detected at FNAL. In parallel, Dr. Ray Davis' studies of solar neutrinos confirmed understanding of stellar dynamics modulo a 2/3 flux deficit that later was recognized as a result of ν oscillations among the three flavors of neutrinos. Properties of those oscillations were further unveiled with followup solar, atmospheric, reactor and accelerator neutrino studies. The discovery of oscillations, detection of 19 neutrino events from supernova 1987a by the old IMB and Kamiokande water cherenkov detectors confirmed the theory of supernova explosions. The WMAP experiment has started to see imprints of neutrino mass effects on cosmic microwave back ground radiation left from the Big Bang.

2. Introduction

In 1998 Dr. Zohreh Parsa started the Neutrino CP Violation studies, extra Long Baseline (L, 2000 km < L < 4000 km) Neutrino (LBN) oscillation Physics and Experiment (LBNE) that envisioned sending a very intense neutrino (ν) beam (e.g., from Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York), through the earth to a far away underground multipurpose large detector capable of making precision measurements of all the (ν) neutrino oscillation parameters, Proton decay and observation of natural sources of neutrinos such as supernova, providing a major advances in neutrino science. The key to this approach is (extra long) very long distance L. Length of the Baseline defines the physics you can do, once chosen, can not be changed without establishing a new facility.

Extra Long Base lines provide possibility of observing multiple nodes of the Neutrino oscillation probability in appearance and disappearance experiments. By measuring muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance, such a project would be capable of determining all 3 generation mixing angles, mass hierarchy, along with magnitude of the CP violation (e.g., by measuring CKM phase and explicitly observing differences in the muon neutrino and muon anti-neutrino oscillations). No existing experiment so far has such capability. E.g., Neutrinos emitted in the first few seconds of a core-collapse supernova, would have insight into evolution of the universe. LBNE (very Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment), would be capable of measuring (collecting and analyzing) the high-statistics neutrino signals from a supernova in our galaxy provide information on the inside of the newly-formed neutron star allowing possible observation of black hole creation.

"Very" or "Extra" Long Baseline terms has been used, to distinct our very Long Baseline (L) from other existing/ or proposed experiments that use the term "Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE)" but have a short baseline, (e.g. Japan's Super-k Detector with baseline of less than 300 km, etc). In existing experiments, Detector(s) were placed at the first node of oscillations (with short baseline). But with extra long baseline LBNE, Detector(s) can be placed e.g. at the 2nd or third nodes of oscillations, that would allow the CP violation measurement in addition to the mixing angles, etc. In our earlier simulation(s), L (lower bound) was reduced from 2000 km to 1300 km to correspond to baseline of FNAL to Homestake.

[Neutrinos — are neutral particles that rarely interact with matter. Over trillion neutrinos pass through your bodies per second without leaving a trace. These tiny particles are able to oscillate, have low masses compared to other elementary particles, and change from one type of neutrino to another, when studied at LBNE could provide a deeper understanding of our universe].


3. LBNE (very Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment)
     with Neutrino Source at BNL

Using a wide band muon neutrino beam from BNL to a 2540 km underground (e.g., 0.5 megaton water Cherenkov) detector at Homestake gold Mine in South Dakota was one of our first study for "very Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment" (LBNE).

Interest in very Long Baseline Experiment (LBNE) with neutrino source at BNL to a far away (L=2540 km), underground Detector at Homestake, grew. Dr. A. Mann (U.Penn.) was one of the 1st to ask Dr. Parsa, (with his calls and in person), for her results for neutrino source/beam from BNL to the underground detector in Homestake Gold Mine. He and others became increasingly interested. They worked hard to get fundings for water removal from the Mine, and later for Processing the Mine to a National Underground Science Lab ("NUSL"; "DUSEL" etc.). Examples of earlier simulations are given below in Fig.1 and Fig.2.

This page include part of Dr. Parsa's collaborative work. In addition to Dr. Parsa, later Dr. Marciano, and at Snowmass meeting Drs. Kahn and McDonald (Princeton) and others joined the proposed (Extra) Very "Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment" (LBNE), that could search for CP violation in the lepton sector and precision studies of the neutrino mixing matrix and more. With time LBNE Collaboration expanded and grew to an international mega-science project.

Potentials of intense neutrino beams from BNL and FNAL to (Long Baseline) underground Detectors at Homestake, SD; Henderson, CO; Cascades, WA; etc.; were also investigated and studied as competition for Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory Site increased. Later Homestake, S.D. was selected.

4. LBNE Reconfiguration

In 2012 after over a decade, the Fermilab (FNAL) proposed for LBNE with source at FNAL. Phase I was approved by DOE which included construction of a Neutrino beamline at FNAL (where the Neutrino beam would travel through earth to a far detector at Sanford Lab in Lead, S.D. |Click Here|. For Brookhaven National Laboratory DOE's approval of CD-1 was an important milestone after over decade of LBNE work at BNL. Using a high intensity accelerator neutrino beam from FNAL to a (L=1287.475 km or about 800 miles baseline) liquid Argon TPC detector at SURF (Homestake), is the LBNE reconfiguration. This program goals, (are BNL LBNE physics goals started over a decade earlier), include Determination of leptonic CP violation, v mass hierarchy, underground physics, etc. LBNE with source at FNAL later was renamed: Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and LBNE Collaboration became DUNE Collaboration, (see Left-Tab 15-21).

 5. DUNE/ LBNF

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) expected to use the most intense neutrino beam and a larg detector to study neutrino (v) the most abundant matter particles in the universe. Scientists continue working to discover the missing pieces that could explain e.g., how the known particles and forces created in our universe; discover if neutrino is the reason our matter-filled universe exists, to check formation of black hole in a nearby galaxy; proton decay, etc.

The full-size DUNE Detector, expected to be built about a mile underground at the Sanford Research Facility (in homestake, South Dakota). Detectors record particle tracks emerging from rare neutrino collisions with (massive target material) atoms. For more on Detectors |click Here|. For the 35-Ton Prototype Detector for DUNE YouTube, click |Here|

May 22, 2014 - P5 Report recommended new international LBNF (Long Baseline Neutrino Facility), with FNAL as the host Lab, (see Left Tabs). "Left Tabs" provides more on LBNE and for beam to Detector at SURF (DUNE/LBNE),   Tab 15 a)LBNF/ DUNE info. Left Tabs also include: SURF; Reactor Experiment; Solar Neutrino Experiment; etc.

Nov 3-4,2016-- DAQ Review papers-slides | Here| ; For: Mark Thomson's |Here|.


Fig. 14: DUNE Collaboration at CERN, with US & International members, Jan 2017.

April 4, 2017 --"The consensus was that DUNE Near Detector system should include both a LAr-TPC and a high-resolution tracker, e.g. click |Here|.

            Fig. 15: (Left to Right) DUNE Spokespersons, Ed Blucher (U Chicago) & M. Thomson (UK); Technical Coordinator: E.James; & International Project Manager S.Kettell, BNL
Fig. 16: May 2017--DUNE Collaboration at FNAL(larger version |Here|); Talks Here

June 26, 2017-- Dual-phase Far Detector Consortia at CERN |Here|

Fig. 17: July 21, 2017 LBNF Groundbreaking |Here|--one mile beneath Lead, South Dakota, construction began as part of LBNF. Excavating Crews will excavate four massive caverns that will house DUNE . View YouTube |LBNF Groundbreaking|

March 1, 2018 ---         Fig. 18: (Left to Right) New DUNE Co-Spokesperson Prof. Stefan Söldner-Rembold,   University of Manchester and Co-Spokeperson Prof. Ed Blucher, Univ. of Chicago .

May 15-18, 2018 — DUNE Collaboration meeting |Click Here|
Fig. 19: May 2018--DUNE Collaboration at FNAL

Sep 18, 2018 - "First particle tracks seen in protoDUNE-sp"- CERN. Progress of ProtoDUNE will be discussed at DUNE Collaboration Meeting Sep24-28-2018
Fig. 20; Proto-DUNE Detector (CERN). For a larger view |Click Here|.