Baseline optimization for the measurement of CP violation and mass hierarchy in a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment

M. Bass, M. Bishai, D. Cherdack, M. Diwan, J. Hernandez, B. Lundberg, X. Qian, R. Rameika, L. Whitehead, R. J. Wilson, E. Worcester, G. Zeller

Published 2013-11-01, updated 2014-10-05Version 2

Next-generation long-baseline electron neutrino appearance experiments will seek to discover CP violation, determine the mass hierarchy and resolve the $\theta_{23}$ octant. In light of the recent precision measurements of $\theta_{13}$, we consider the sensitivity of these measurements in a study to determine the optimal baseline, including practical considerations regarding beam and detector performance. We conclude that a detector at a baseline of at least 1000 km in a wide-band muon neutrino beam is the optimal configuration.