Constraints on New Physics from Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Experiments

Abstract

New physics beyond the Standard Model can lead to extra matter effects on neutrino oscillation if the new interactions distinguish among the three flavors of neutrino. In a previous paper [1], we argued that a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in which the Fermilab-NUMI beam in its high-energy mode [2] is aimed at the planned Hyper-Kamiokande detector [3] would be capable of constraining the size of those extra effects, provided the vacuum value of sin² 2θ₂₃ is not too close to one. In this paper, we discuss how such a constraint would translate into limits on the coupling constants and masses of new particles in various models. The models we consider are: models with generation distinguishing Z′s such as topcolor assisted technicolor, models containing various types of leptoquarks, R-parity violating SUSY, and extended Higgs sector models. In several cases, we find that the limits thus obtained could be competitive with those expected from direct searches at the LHC. In the event that any of the particles discussed here are discovered at the LHC, then the observation, or non-observation, of their matter effects could help in identifying what type of particle had been observed.