Fundamental Differences: MINOS and DUNE

In summary, DUNE, a new long baseline neutrino experiment, is being funded despite the existence of the MINOS infrastructure. Both experiments have similar distances to detectors and are located in the Soudan Mine and underground research facility in South Dakota. The advantages of having two detectors at similar distances include longer baselines, more flexible beam energies, and more advanced detectors. The funding for MINOS+ is still ongoing, but the new DUNE experiment offers the potential for insights in the neutrino sector, particularly in the areas of mass ordering and CP violation. While the results of DUNE may be known from other sources before the experiment is completed, it still stands a fair chance in providing valuable information.
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Curious if anyone has insight into why a new long baseline neutrino experiment, DUNE, is being funded when the MINOS infrastructure has been in place for a few years. The experiments seem approximately the same, traveling similar distances to detectors in the Soudan Mine and to the underground research facility in Lead, South Dakota. Can someone speculate or inform about the advantages of having two detectors at similar distances? Money is still being pumped into MINOS+, I believe. Why build a new one?
 
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  • Longer baseline
  • More flexible beam energies
  • More advanced detector
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
  • Longer baseline
  • More flexible beam energies
  • More advanced detector

Just to add that this would be utterly irrelevant if there was not also a physics case. MINOS will hardly be able to provide any insight on the remaining unknowns in the neutrino sector, i.e., mass ordering and CP violation. It is likely that DUNE will stand a fair chance on both. The mass ordering measurement at DUNE is as good as guaranteed, but is also likely to be known from other sources before DUNE has results. CP violation is in some sense the holy grail of long baseline experiments and the success will be dependent on the actual value of the CP phase. Then there are of course also possible exotic scenarios, but the above are the bread and butter.
 
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Related to Fundamental Differences: MINOS and DUNE

What is MINOS and DUNE?

MINOS and DUNE are two large-scale particle physics experiments that study the behavior of neutrinos, which are subatomic particles that have very little mass and interact very weakly with matter. These experiments are located in different underground facilities in the United States and are run by different research collaborations.

What are the main differences between MINOS and DUNE?

The main difference between MINOS and DUNE is their scale and goals. MINOS is a smaller experiment that mainly studies the properties of neutrinos and their oscillation, while DUNE is a larger and more complex experiment that aims to study the behavior of neutrinos in more detail, including their interactions with matter and possible differences between neutrinos and antineutrinos.

What are the similarities between MINOS and DUNE?

Both MINOS and DUNE use similar technologies and methods to detect and study neutrinos. They both use large detectors made of specialized materials, such as liquid argon, to capture and measure the interactions of neutrinos with matter. They also both collaborate with scientists from all over the world to analyze the data collected from their experiments.

What are the potential implications of the findings from MINOS and DUNE?

The findings from MINOS and DUNE can have significant implications for our understanding of the fundamental properties of matter and the universe. They can also have practical applications, such as improving our ability to detect neutrinos and developing new technologies for energy production and medical imaging.

What is the timeline for the completion of MINOS and DUNE?

MINOS has been operational since 2005 and has completed its data collection. DUNE is still under construction and is expected to start collecting data in the mid-2020s. However, both experiments will continue to analyze and publish results for many years to come as scientists continue to interpret the data and make new discoveries.

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