Towards a detection of reactor $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}\to \overline{\hat{I}}{½}_{\hat{I}}^{}¼$ and $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}\to \overline{\hat{I}}{½}_{\ddot{I}}^{}„$ oscillations with possible CP violation

Abstract

We propose an unprecedented detection of reactor $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}\to \overline{\hat{I}}{½}_{\hat{I}}^{}¼$ and $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}\to \overline{\hat{I}}{½}_{\ddot{I}}^{}„$ oscillations by using elastic antineutrino-electron scattering processes $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_{\hat{I}}^{}\pm +e^{-}\to \overline{\hat{I}}{½}_{\hat{I}}^{}\pm +e^{-}$ (for $\hat{I}\pm =e,\hat{I}¼,\ddot{I}„$), among which the $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}$ events can be singled out by accurately measuring the $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}$ flux via the inverse beta decay $\overline{\hat{I}}{½}_e^{}+p\to e^{+}+n$. A proof-of-concept study shows that such measurements will not only be able to test the conservation of probability for reactor antineutrino oscillations, but also offer a new possibility to probe leptonic CP violation at the one-loop level.

12 pages, 3 figures