Search for sterile neutrinos as another research objective of $\hat{I}{¸}_{13}$ experiments at reactors

Abstract

Searches for mass-3 component in the electron neutrino flavor state $\sin \hat{I}{¸}_{13}$ and for sterile neutrinos can be carried out in the same small mixing angle antineutrino oscillation experiment at a reactor. As an example we consider a layout, which involves several movable antineutrino spectrometers, stationed at distances 1700 m $-$ 50 m from a reactor. The experiment can scan neutrino mass parameter interval $\sim$(0.5$-$0.001) eV${}^2$ and have there typical sensitivity to ${\sin }^{2}2\hat{I}¸$ at a level of 0.015$-$0.02. The signature for sterile neutrino is disappearance observed at mass parameter $\hat{I}”m_{new}^2$ different from $\hat{I}”m_{atm}^2\approx 2\times 10^{-3}$ eV${}^2$. In any case existing constraints both on $\sin \hat{I}{¸}_{13}$ and on sterile neutrinos can considerably be improved.

4 pages in LaTeX and 3 postscript figures