SPSC108 summary for IEFC Part 1

1. SPSC108 summary for IEFC Part 1 Lau Gatignon / EN, S.Maury / BE Open Session: AEGIS, ACE, GBAR, ASACUSA, ATRAP, ALPHA Closed Session: BASE, SBL, AWAKE, CHIC,DIRAC, CLOUD, COMPASS, NA61,NA62, NA63, OPERA, ICARUS, CAST, OSQAR, UA9

2. ACCELERATORS Report on machine performance (protons and ions) since the last SPSC meeting.In general smooth operation of all machines, apart from some stops in the SPS (kickers, transverse damper, 18 kV cable faults, magnets, vacuum, flooding, ..). Good start of the ion operation in December and again in January.Strange decrease of the PS extraction field by 10-15 G, only for ions. Presentation of 2013 and 2014 injector schedules and an early draft for 2015. EXPERIMENTAL AREAS Report on experimental areas operation (protons and NA ions) since the last SPSC meeting.Particular mention of the successful NA62 Technical Run and K12 beam line commissioning. It was mentioned that the 2014 proton run will normally be at reduced intensity. An official memo announcing the stop of OPERA is expected shortly. Summary SPSC108

3. SCHEDULE Horst presented the schedule for the on-going NA ion run. He then showed an overview of the number of beam requests over the last years with a continuously increasing trend from the test beams. A future neutrino program wouldaffect the beam time available forthe North Area. Some estimates were presented for the impact of an eventual neutrino program on the North Area fixed target operation. This is particularly true in the scenario proposed where SBL andthe North Area can not operate in parallel.Could e.g. SBL run in the months when electricity is too expensive for afixed target program? Should the FT facilities at CERN be extended? Summary SPSC108

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6. SBL REPORT Summary SPSC108

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11. History of the SPSC review In March 2011 the SPSC received a memorandum (SPSC-M-773) from the ICARUS Collaboration proposing to search for sterile neutrinos with a new short baseline neutrino beam at the PS, using the 600 ton ICARUS detector moved from LNGS, together with a Near Detector made of a new 150 ton ICARUS TPC. The memorandum was followed by a proposal (SPSC-P-345) in October 2011, and complemented the same month by a proposal (SPSC-P-343) of the NESSIE Collaboration to add muon spectrometers to the ICARUS LAr TPCs. Following the recommendations of SPSC 103, the two proposals were merged into a single Technical Proposal (SPSC-P-347) submitted in March 2012. In this proposal the project was relocated to the CERN North Area at the SPS. As recommended by SPSC 106, a joint working group between the ICARUS+NESSIE Collaboration and the CERN beam department was formed in Summer 2012 in order to define and optimise the details of the beam design, associated infrastructure and experimental conditions. In June 2012 the SPSC received an Expression of Interest (SPSC-E-007) from the LAGUNA-LBNO consortium for an experiment involving a new long baseline neutrino beam from CERN. The project aims to provide an unambiguous determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy and to perform a study of CP violation in the neutrino sector. It involves LAr TPCs and muon spectrometers like the ICARUS+NESSIE proposal, though with different designs. The LAGUNA LAr TPC concept is based on a novel technology with double phase Argon, different from the single-phase technique used by ICARUS. Out of seven options extensively addressed during the first LAGUNA phase (2008-2011) the consortium selected the Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland as the best potential European site to host the far detector. However, very recently the Finnish Government officially stated that Finland could not financially commit to host the LAGUNA-LBNO far site. Summary SPSC108

12. General considerations The SPSC supports the physics cases of both projects and recognises their timely relevance in the rapidly evolving neutrino physics landscape. In this context the SPSC considers it important to strengthen neutrino activities at CERN in order to help focus those future European contributions to neutrino physics extending beyond the ongoing approved programmes. The SPSC considers that a new short baseline neutrino beam at the SPS could be an adequate facility to foster this focus in the near future, provided that the beam operation, in addition to making progress on the sterile neutrino question, can also contribute significantly to the preparation of the future long baseline neutrino projects. The SPSC supports the focus of the European neutrino community on the LAr TPC technology, for which it has a unique expertise worldwide from the operation of the largest underground LAr detector by the ICARUS Collaboration. This technology is well suited for the search for sterile neutrinos, as well as for very long baseline neutrino experiments if it can be scaled to the large masses required by the measurement of CP violation. It is complementary to the large Water Cerenkov detectors developed in Japan, which are better adapted to shorter baseline neutrino beams and which compensate for a more difficult control of fine systematic effects by an easier scalability to very large masses. The SPSC notes that the US neutrino community has a similar technological focus as Europe. The SPSC therefore recommends that future European R&D for neutrino beam physics at CERN should be made in close contact with the US groups in anticipation of cooperation on future projects. Summary SPSC108

13. Detailed recommendations The SPSC recommends moving the ICARUS detector from LNGS to CERN during LHC LS1, to a position suitable for use as the far detector of a short baseline experiment for search for sterile neutrinos. The SPSC encourages the ICARUS+NESSIE Collaboration and the LBNO consortium to set up a joint working group (SBL-LBL) in order to identify all potential synergies between the two projects, including for example Near Detectors, LAr TPCs and their event reconstruction software, muon spectrometers and extended SBL physics reach with e.g. measurements of neutrino cross sections. The SPSC recommends that the ICARUS+NESSIE Collaboration optimise its experimental setup for beam conditions and costs, using inputs of the SBL-LBL joint working group. In particular the collaboration should investigate the possibility to re-use the OPERA spectrometers and to build some of its new components (spectrometers, Near Detector, …) in cooperation with LBNO. Particular attention should be paid to the adequacy of the Near Detector for the expected beam and background conditions. For further review of the project the SPSC requests a comprehensive TDR document for the final detector configuration and expected physics reach. This TDR should include a detailed breakdown of the work packages and associated responsibilities, costs and financial resources. Summary SPSC108

14. In the design of the new SBL neutrino beam, the SPSC recommends that all efforts be made to keep the impact of the beam operation upon the availability of the North Area (NA) beam tests lines and upon the operation of the NA Fixed Target experiments at a level lower than or similar to that of CNGS in the past years. Concerning LAGUNA-LBNO, the SPSC supports the double-phase LAr TPC option as a promising technique to instrument very large LAr neutrino detectors in the future. The SPSC therefore encourages the LBNO consortium to proceed with the R&D necessary to validate the technology on a large scale. For further review of the project, the SPSC requests a technical proposal describing the R&D programme to be led at CERN, taking into account the outcome of the SBL-LBL joint working group. Summary SPSC108

15. AWAKE Progress was presented on numerous aspects of the experiment and from the AWAKE project at CERN.The referees are impressed by the progress made in all aspects since the presentation of theLOI a year ago. The TDR is expected to become available by the end of March. The implementation studies at CERN lead to a new candidate location (CNGS), which looks very promising but requires that the operation of CNGS is stopped as a neutrino beam and that the proton beam installation is kept operational. It is proposed to maintain a backward compatibility with neutrino operation, but the change-over requires a shutdown of several months. The beam time request amounts to 4 times 2 weeks per year. The referees need about two weeks between receiving the CDR and an in-depth discussion at the (next?) SPSC (in April). Summary SPSC108

16. CHIC This is an expression of interest of a charm (di-muon) experiment with protons and Pb ions at the SPS.The ‘collaboration’ consists for the moment of 5 physicists. Experiment components based on NA50/60 experience (mainly to estimate signal and background rates) and on current technologies:– Spectrometer: NA60 silicon micro-strip technology, momentum resolution improved (factor 6)– Calorimeter: based on CALICE W+Si EM design, 29 planes, 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm pads– Absorber/muon spectrometer Rates are based on a beam intensity similar to NA50 (which was in ECN3) At some later stage one may have to investigate where such an experiment could be installed. The SPSC received an expression of interest to study charmonium production with proton and heavy ion beams (SPSC-EOI-008). The committee recognises the strong physics motivation of a study that addresses central open questions about the colour screening of charmonium in heavy ion collisions and about cold nuclear matter effects. An extension of the physics scope to open charm production would be desirable for a comprehensive investigation of the topic. A further review would require a letter of intent presented by a suitable collaboration with more detailed information about the experimental implementation. Summary SPSC108

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18. DIRAC DIRAC finished data-taking on November 26th and will complete dismantling by June 2013.They collected 7.4 105 spills in 2012, i.e. 3.07 spill per super-cycle on average. They expect final results on Kp atoms and preliminary results on long-lived pp atoms in 2013,final results onppatoms in 2014. CLOUD CLOUD7 run went well, both beam and experiment (alpha-pinene, effects of ions, etc).CLOUD8 run (without beam) is planned from October till December 2013 on cloud microphysics. OSQAR The possibility to get the laser from ALPS has vanished, now that ALPS2 seems moving towards approval.Only a minimal program is (for the time being) maintained for 2013: two weeks plus 4x1 week. Summary SPSC108

19. COMPASS The DVCS run provided 6 times the 2009 run statistics (expected 8x), due to 70% SPS efficiencyand 80% SPS+M2 efficiency. Reorganisation of the COMPASS target region during LS1. Moving the counting room to B892.The Oxford magnet has been repaired. The repair of the damaged 3He pump is still under study. For the moment no more Technical Coordinator. Also the funding for the polarised target is not guaranteed after LS1.COMPASS expressed concern about possible proton sharing with future neutrino programs. UA9 The test of the LHC-grade goniometer had to be postponed to end 2014. Now focus on preparatory work for the LHC and analysis. Summary SPSC108

20. NA62 Beam commissioning went VERY well, nominal intensity achieved near end of burst (TBD: improve temporal profile of spill) Several detectors were commissioned and time-aligned: CEDAR, LAV1-2-3, STRAW, CHOD, LKR (old electronics), MUV2, MUV3 (some problems with HV and CFD) Other detectors tested in stand-alone mode: CHANTI, LKR (prototype of CREAM electronics), SAC Timing resolutions within specs: CEDAR 220 ps, LAV 800 ps, MUV3 below 500 ps Preparations for 2014 run: RICH: vessel expected this year GTK: chip final design review in early March, work ongoing on mechanics and cooling; on schedule for having the 3 stations ready by Oct. 2014 STRAW: production in Dubna and CERN ongoing at the expected rate Summary SPSC108

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22. NA63 For e+ experiment: start collaboration with Niels Bohr institute to improve on-line performanceof MIMOSA detectors. OPERA No official statement yet for future beam but the collaboration decision is informally known. Slightly lower proton flux than expected in 2012, therefore in total ~20% below nominal overall. Thentanalysis remains top priority, but still only 2 events. In 2012 100% of funding was received apart from the Swiss contribution. For 2013 some funding from INFN is already foreseen, otherwise discussions are under way. ICARUS Recorded 3.58 1019 pot this year (93%). Cumulative pot since 2010: 8.6 1019. Now cosmic ray data-taking for a few months and preparing for the move of the detectorto the North Area Summary SPSC108