Towards a detection of reactor $\overlineν^{}_e \to \overlineν^{}_μ$ and $\overlineν^{}_e \to \overlineν^{}_τ$ oscillations with possible CP violation

Abstract

We propose an unprecedented detection of reactor $\overlineν^{}_e \to \overlineν^{}_μ$ and $\overlineν^{}_e \to \overlineν^{}_τ$ oscillations by using elastic antineutrino-electron scattering processes $\overlineν^{}_α+ e^- \to \overlineν^{}_α+ e^-$ (for $α= e, μ, τ$), among which the $\overlineν^{}_e$ events can be singled out by accurately measuring the $\overlineν^{}_e$ flux via the inverse beta decay $\overlineν^{}_e + p \to e^+ + n$. A proof-of-concept study shows that such measurements will not only be able to test the conservation of probability for reactor antineutrino oscillations, but also offer a new possibility to probe leptonic CP violation at the one-loop level.