Charge to the BNL Neutrino R&D Working Group

December 1, 2001

BNL intends to initiate an R&D study to refine the technical basis for a future proposal to employ the BNL AGS as the source of a 1MW (or possibly greater), ~1GeV neutrino beam for the continuing exploration of neutrino physics, including CP-violation in the neutrino sector. We also expect as the second element of this R&D study, to be key organizers of an experimental physics and detector design effort that will engage interested physicists in the U.S. and other countries in the preparation of the conceptual basis for a formal proposal to design and build a neutrino detector system to exploit the BNL neutrino beam and to carry out the associated neutrino physics program.

To this end, the Laboratory will designate three R&D leaders for these efforts: the Neutrino Team Leader; the Accelerator and Beam Systems Team Leader; and the Physics Goals and Detector Design Team Leader. These three leaders will, in turn, be responsible for organizing the technical work that will enable a good scientific proposal to be written to the funding agencies that are identified as potential sponsors of this new U.S. particle physics effort. The three team leaders will serve until this R&D study is complete and documented in a written report. It is intended that the written R&D report should be completed no later than June 1, 2002.

The specific roles of the three Team Leaders comprise:

Neutrino Team Leader: The Neutrino Team Leader (NTL) will have responsibility for ensuring that the overall goals of a successful neutrino physics program have been covered by appropriate R&D studies in each of the important contributing technical systems and that there is a coherent overall time evolution plan that is consistent with preparing a compelling proposal that addresses the goals of neutrino physics in a timely manner. This role should be understood as primarily a guidance and oversight role rather than a detailed management role. The balance and completeness of the study is the primary responsibility of the NTL.

Accelerator and Beam Systems Team Leader: The Accelerator and Beam Systems Team Leader (ABSTL) is the person primarily responsible for planning, staffing, carrying out and reporting on the accelerator and neutrino beam forming systems that are relevant for the preparation of a credible proposal to construct and operate a 1MW or greater proton target and associated useful neutrino beam(s) using the AGS (suitably upgraded) as the proton driver. To accomplish this mission, the ABSTL will be helped by the relevant BNL department heads to identify sufficient and appropriate technical staff to carry out the needed studies. The ABSTL is also expected to create an appropriate discussion and reporting forum(s) where the ongoing progress in this R&D effort can be reported and discussed for the general benefit of interested parties and participants. The ABSTL role is understood to be the principal management role for accomplishing the desired R&D studies in the accelerator and beam forming elements of the overall R&D program.

Physics Goals and Detector Team Leader: The Physics Goals and Detector Team Leader (PGDTL) is the person primarily responsible for planning, staffing, carrying out and reporting on the physics goals and detector strategies that are relevant for the preparation of a credible proposal to construct and operate a detector array that can exploit the 1MW or greater neutrino beams from the AGS proton driver. To accomplish this mission, the PGDTL will be helped by the BNL Physics Department head and (hopefully) by neutrino community scientists and engineers in other institutions to find sufficient and appropriate scientific staff to carry out the needed studies. The PGDTL is also expected to create appropriate discussion and reporting forums where the ongoing progress in this R&D effort can be reported and discussed for the general benefit of interested parties and participants. The PGDTL role is understood to be the principal management role for accomplishing the desired R&D physics and detector studies for the overall neutrino R&D program.