Institute of research into the fundamental laws of the Universe

SACM is conducting research into beta-beam neutrino factories as part of the European FP6 and FP7 R&D programs. The IN2P3 and CERN are the main partners in this work. The aim of this activity is to use the beta radioactivity of He⁶ or Li⁸ nuclei as an antineutrino source, and that of Ne¹⁸ or B⁸ nuclei as the neutrino source. The great advantage of this type of source is that it only produces neutrinos of known flavor and within a known and relatively narrow energy spectrum.

Once they are produced and accelerated, the radioactive beta nuclei are stored in a ring 7 km in circumference, which includes two long straight sections lined up with the underground detector. SACM is responsible for designing this storage ring. During each revolution, a well-defined proportion of the nuclei decays, emitting neutrinos in their direction of propagation.

The decay occurring in one of the straight sections produces a short pulse of neutrinos aimed at the detector. The resulting nuclei, Li⁶, Be⁸, or F¹⁸, are lost in the ring and represent an activation source that must be controlled. To obtain the neutrino flux necessary for the experiments, enough nuclei must accumulate in the decay ring and new nuclei must be injected periodically to make up for their disintegration. These processes induce beam losses, which must also be controlled.