Physics (Internal)

Determining the Neutrino Mass Hierarchy with Matter Effects

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Examining Committee: Edward Kearns, Robert Carey, Emanuel Katz, Pankaj Mehta

Abstract: Determining the neutrino mass hierarchy is one of the next big steps for neutrino physics. One of the most promising techniques for making this measurement is to take advantage of matter effects in either atmospheric or accelerator neutrinos passing through the Earth. I will discuss this technique, and the first work on this measurement by Super Kamiokande (SK) with atmospheric neutrinos, and T2K and NOvA with accelerator neutrinos. I will also discuss studies of sensitivity to matter effects in SK's atmospheric neutrino sample.