Research area: non-accelerator Neutrino physics, low energy particle physics.

Research projects:

Concluded: Palo Verde Neutrino Oscillation Experiment. Intermediate baseline (750-890 m) neutrino oscillation search at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, near Phoenix, Az. Goal of this experiment was to search for neutrino oscillations, in the allowed neutrino mass-mixing parameter range derived from Kamiokande's atmospheric neutrino anomaly.
Our collaboration, made of groups of Caltech, Stanford University, the University of Alabama and Arizona State University, used an 11.3 tons of Gd loaded liquid scintillation detector, to measure the reactor anti-neutrino flux.


KamLAND
is a 1000 ton liquid scintillation detector, set-up in the underground cavity of the former Kamiokande experiment. The experiment is collecting data since 2002. This device is used to explore range of subjects:

• long baseline neutrino oscillations,
• the earth's radioactivity content using geological anti-neutrinos,
• high energy extra-terrestrial electron anti-neutrinos,
• solar neutrinos.

The primary mission of the experiment is the utilization of low energy reactor anti-neutrinos, with a baseline of 150-200 km, to measure neutrino oscillations. These oscillations have been observed. The experiment addresses various other topics like e.g. supernova neutrinos and terrestrial anti-neutrinos.
2006 the detector has been equipped with a scintillator purification facility. Goals of the low background phase are the detection of solar ⁷Be neutrinos and of terrestrial anti-neutrinos. The dominant low energy background sources ⁸⁵Kr and ²¹⁰Pb have been reduced by factors 10⁴ and 2500, respectively. UA's contributions to KamLAND are funded by the Department of Energy and the Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (University of Tokyo).

KamLAND Physics Results:

Evidence for Reactor Neutrino Disappearance

High Sensitivity Search for Solar anti-Neutrinos

Measurement of Neutrino Oscillations: Evidence for Spectral Distortion.

Experimental investigation of geologically produced anti-neutrinos with KamLAND

Search for the Invisible Decay of Neutrons with KamLAND

Precision Measurement of Neutrino Oscillation Parameters with KamLAND

Constraints on theta13 from a three-flavor oscillation analysis of reactor anti-neutrinos at KamLAND

Measurement of the 8B Solar Neutrino Flux with the KamLAND Liquid Scintillator Detector

Partial radiogenic heat model for Earth revealed by geoneutrino measurements

A study of extraterrestrial antineutrino sources with the KamLAND detector

EXO



is a large double beta decay experiment. Data taking started in early 2011. The detector utilizes 200 kg of Xenon, isotopically enriched to a ¹³⁶Xe content of 80%. The detector is installed underground at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), near Carlsbad (NM). The UA group is responsible for:

• initial background estimates by means of Monte Carlo simulation,
• ultra sensitive radioactivity measurements
• set up, commissioning, and operation of the active cosmic ray veto shield.

The very large source strength coupled with a low background and good active background rejection capabilities allowed us to derive the currently most stringent upper limit on the Majorana of 140-380 meV. UA's contributions to EXO are funded by the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

EXO Physics Results:

Observation of Two-Neutrino Double-Beta Decay in 136Xe with EXO-200
Search for Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay in ¹³⁶Xe with EXO-200

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Links to projects

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Some more information

Email: andreas@bama.ua.edu

Mail: Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Alabama 206 Gallalee Hall Box 870324 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0324, USA

Telephone: (Tel) 205-348-6066 (Fax) 205-348-5051