Superbeams and neutrino factories — Two paths to intense accelerator-based neutrino beams

Abstract

High-energy and high-beam power accelerators are extensively used for the neutrino physics research. At present, the leading operational facilities are the J-PARC facility in Japan, which recently approached 0.5 MW of the 30 GeV proton beam power, and the Fermilab Main Injector complex that delivers over 0.75 MW of 120 GeV protons on the neutrino target. Besides such type of neutrino superbeams, the concept of neutrino factories offers great promise for particle physics research. In this brief review we present the status and planned upgrades of the J-PARC and Fermilab accelerators and leading proposals for the next generation accelerator-based facilities of both types, their challenges and required and ongoing accelerator R&D programs aimed to address corresponding performance and cost risks.