Search for sterile neutrinos as another research objective of $θ_{13}$ experiments at reactors

Abstract

Searches for mass-3 component in the electron neutrino flavor state $\sinθ_{13}$ and for sterile neutrinos can be carried out in the same small mixing angle antineutrino oscillation experiment at a reactor. As an example we consider a layout, which involves several movable antineutrino spectrometers, stationed at distances 1700 m $-$ 50 m from a reactor. The experiment can scan neutrino mass parameter interval $\sim$(0.5$-$0.001) eV$^{2}$ and have there typical sensitivity to $\sin^{2}2θ$ at a level of 0.015$-$0.02. The signature for sterile neutrino is disappearance observed at mass parameter $Δm^{2}_{new}$ different from $Δm^{2}_{atm} \approx 2\times 10^{-3}$ eV$^{2}$. In any case existing constraints both on $\sinθ_{13}$ and on sterile neutrinos can considerably be improved.