Determining the octant of θ23 at LBNE in conjunction with reactor experiments

Abstract

We have explored the possibility of resolving the θ23 octant degeneracy present in the newly planned Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) by combining reactor experiments. Reactor experiments have already measured the third mixing angle θ13 very precisely and this precise measurement of θ13 in turn helps in determining the octant of θ23. We have examined the octant sensitivity with and without data from reactors. Octant sensitivity increases if reactors are added. The comparative study of octant sensitivities of 10 kt and 35 kt liquid argon far detector (FD), with and without the near detector (ND), reveals that the sensitivity increases with an increase in detector mass. Also, the presence of the ND improves the sensitivity. The effect of adding prior on octant determination is also studied in this work.