# Presentation: 924784

##        Whither from Here?

- Stanley Wojcicki
- Stanford University
- September 16, 2002
- London, England

##       General Arguments

- The total cost of the NuMI project was about $174M
- Only about $50M of that amount went into Soudan excavation and Far Detector
- It makes sound financial sense to capitalize on the investment in the NuMI beam if physics warrants it
- Neutrino physics will be a frontier area in HEP for many years to come
- The focus of Fermilab activities in the medium range future will _not_ be a collider program. Neutrino physics appears to be an ideal center piece of medium range (2006-2018) program there.

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

##         Recent Initiative

- A Letter of Intent has been submitted to Fermilab in June expressing interest in a new  effort using off-axis detector in the NuMI beam
- This would most likely be a ~15 year long, 2 phase effort, culminating in a detailed study of CP violation
- The LOI was considered by the Fermilab PAC at its Aspen July, 2002, meeting

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

##   The Next Steps/Schedule

- R&D effort on light Z detectors is ongoing
- Workshop on detector technology issues planned for January, 2003
- Proposal to DOE/NSF in early 2003 for support of R&D and subsequent construction of a Near Detector in NuMI beam to be taking data by early 2005
- Proposal for construction of a 25 kt detector in late 2004
- Site selection, experiment approval, and start of construction in late 2005
- Start of data taking in the Far Detector in late 2007

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

##   Fermilab Official Reaction

-           Given the exciting recent results, the eagerly anticipated results from the present
- and near future program, and the worldwide interest in future experiments, _it is clear that_
- _the field of neutrino physics is rapidly evolving_. Fermilab is already well positioned to
- contribute through its investment in MiniBooNE and NuMI/MINOS. Beyond this, the
- _significant investment made by the Laboratory and NuMI could be further exploited to_
- _play an important role in the elucidation of ____13 __and the exciting possibility of observing_
- _CP violation in the neutrino sector_.The Committee encourages the Laboratory to continue
- to engage with the neutrino community through workshops and colloquia in an ongoing
- exploration of the experimental possibilities utilizing Fermilab’s unique resources. The
- _Committee anticipates that the Laboratory may want to issue a Call for Proposals in a year_
- _or two if a compelling role for Fermilab is identified_.
-                                         ( June 2002, PAC Recommendation)

-  _We will encourage a series of workshops and discussions, designed to help convergence_
- _on strong proposals within the next few years_. These should involve as broad a community
- as possible so that we can accurately gauge the interest and chart our course.
- Understanding the demands on the accelerator complex and the need for possible
- modest improvements is also a goal. Potentially, _an extension of the neutrino program _
- _could be a strong addition to the Fermilab program in the medium term. We hope to get _
- _started on this early in 2003._
-                                                                           Michael Witherell

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

##     Comments re Funding

- The cost of a ~25kt detector is $50-100M
- Assuming construction over ~3-4 yrs, the annual expenditure is substantial
- Fermilab is unlikely to have such funds available before 2008 at best (BTeV,CKM)
- NSF has a number of MRI projects waiting in line for funding
- DOE University Program is a possible source
- Participation of institutions from abroad with ability to contribute resources can have a great positive impact

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

##            Personal View

- The physics is exciting and we are optimally positioned to explore it
- Significant physics can be done with the NuMI facility _without_ any major accelerator complex improvements
- _We should get started ASAP_ and plan on adiabatic increases in both accelerator intensity and mass of the detector
- Significant physics can be done already with 5-10 kt detector and annual POT of ~4 x 1020
- Obtaining additional resources for accelerator and detector upgrades will be much easier once we have a viable ongoing program
- We definitely should not wait for any decision on the new proton driver before we get started
- _The best argument for a new intense proton source will be an ongoing strong and promising neutrino program_
- _ __ _

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

##     Concluding Remarks

- Realization of a NuMI off-axis program is a non-trivial task
- The potential physics payoffs, however, warrant significant investement of effort
- It is unlikely that this effort can be successful unless the participation in it can be extended significantly beyond the present MINOS Collaboration
- There are many opportunities for new groups to make significant contributions in leadership, intellectual, financial, and technical areas.

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002

- http://www-off-axis.fnal.gov/
- This site will contain a lot of relevant information regarding NuMI off-axis beam; it will also contain pointers to relevant papers, talks, letters, etc.

- Web site

- Stan Wojcicki,  The Next Steps

- September 16, 2002