[Paper Review] Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) Conceptual Design Report Volume 1: The LBNF and DUNE Projects

R. Acciarri, M. A. Acero+803 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jan 20, 2016

Neutrino Physics Research100 citations

TL;DR

This Conceptual Design Report presents the LBNF/DUNE project rationale, organization, schedule, and a reference design for a 1.2 MW (upgradable) wide-band neutrino beam and four 10-kt liquid argon far detectors at SURF, aiming for 120 kt·MW·year exposure by ~2032 and CP violation/mass-hierarchy sensitivity in a staged program.

ABSTRACT

This document presents the Conceptual Design Report (CDR) put forward by an international neutrino community to pursue the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment at the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF/DUNE), a groundbreaking science experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies and for neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. The DUNE far detector will be a very large modular liquid argon time-projection chamber (LArTPC) located deep underground, coupled to the LBNF multi-megawatt wide-band neutrino beam. DUNE will also have a high-resolution and high-precision near detector.

Motivation & Objective

• Motivate the LBNF/DUNE program as a convergence of global neutrino efforts into a single next-generation long-baseline experiment.
• Define the science goals: CP violation in the lepton sector, neutrino mass hierarchy, and precision neutrino interactions; plus ancillary physics.
• Describe the project strategy, facility designs, detector concepts, and international organizational structure to meet P5/ESPP recommendations.
• Present a two-pronged schedule coordinating far-site (SURF) and near-site (Fermilab) construction and commissioning.
• Outline management structures and responsibilities among LBNF, DUNE, Fermilab, CERN, and international partners.

Proposed method

• Describe the scientific case and required performance to achieve 120 kt·MW·year exposure by 2032 and CP violation sensitivity benchmarks.
• Propose four 10-kt far detector modules using liquid argon time-projection chamber technology with staged deployment.
• Outline beamline design, including PIP-II-based 1.2 MW operation and potential upgrade to multi-megawatt power.
• Detail conventional facilities, cryogenics, and detector infrastructure at Fermilab and SURF.
• Adopt an international governance model modeled on CERN structures with distinct LBNF and DUNE responsibilities.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What experimental sensitivity to the neutrino mass hierarchy and CP-violating phase delta_CP can be achieved with the proposed LBNF/DUNE setup and beam power evolution?
• RQ2 How does the staged deployment affect early physics outputs and the overall timeline to 120 kt·MW·year exposure?
• RQ3 What ancillary measurements (neutrino cross sections, nucleon structure, nuclear effects, etc.) become accessible with the DUNE near detector and LBNF beam?
• RQ4 What are the optimal configurations and upgrade paths for the beamline and detectors to meet P5/ESPP recommendations?
• RQ5 How should international governance and funding be organized to sustain construction and operation?

Key findings

• The program targets an exposure of 120 kt·MW·year by the 2035 timeframe under the P5 recommendations.
• A 1.2 MW beam, upgradable to multi-megawatt power, and underground far detectors with cavern space for expansion to at least 40 kt LAr fiducial are planned.
• The far detector will consist of four 10-kt LArTPC modules installed in stages, enabling early science outputs.
• The near detector provides high-resolution measurements to control systematics and maximize sensitivity.
• DUNE aims to determine mass hierarchy and CP violation with high confidence and to enable broad non-accelerator (atmospheric, supernova, nucleon decay) physics.
• An international organizational structure, with Fermilab as host and CERN in-kind contributions, coordinates LBNF construction and DUNE collaboration activities.