Speaker
Description
The present global analyses of the available oscillation data still allow $\sin^{2}\theta_{23}=0.5$ at 3$\sigma$ confidence level while, the current best-fit of $\theta_{23}$ strongly suggests $\sin^{2}\theta_{23} \neq 0.5$.Thus, it is imperative to question at what significance maximal 2-3 mixing can be ruled out. We study in great detail the performance of DUNE to establish the deviation from maximality in the 2-3 sector. We also discuss the impact of $\sin^{2}\theta_{23} - \Delta m^{2}_{31}$ degeneracy in establishing non-maximal $\theta_{23}$ and show how this degeneracy can be broken by exploiting the spectral shape information in $\nu$ and $\bar{\nu}$ disappearance events. We find that a 3$\sigma$ (5$\sigma$) determination of non-maximal $\theta_{23}$ is possible in DUNE with an exposure of 336 kt$\cdot$MW$\cdot$years if the true value of $\sin^2\theta_{23} \leq 0.465~(0.450)$ or $\sin^2\theta_{23} \geq 0.554~(0.572)$ for any value of true $\delta_{\mathrm{CP}}$ and true NMO. We also study the individual contributions from appearance and disappearance channels, the impact of systematic uncertainties and marginalization over oscillation parameters, the importance of spectral analysis, and the data from both $\nu$ and $\bar\nu$ runs, while analyzing DUNE's sensitivity to discover non-maximal $\theta_{23}$.
| Attendance type | Virtual presentation |
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