Towards a detection of reactor ν̄^ₑ → ν̄^_μ and ν̄^ₑ → ν̄^_τ oscillations with possible CP violation

We propose a novel method to detect reactor ν̄^ₑ → ν̄^_μ and ν̄^ₑ → ν̄^_τ oscillations by using elastic antineutrino-electron scattering processes ν̄^_α + e⁻ → ν̄^_α + e⁻ (for α = e, μ, τ), among which the ν̄^ₑ events can be singled out by accurately measuring the ν̄^ₑ flux via the inverse beta decay ν̄^ₑ + p → 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. Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI. Article funded by SCOAP3 and published under licence by Chinese Physical Society and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing Ltd.