The Neutrino group at LAPP is involved in present neutrino oscillation experiments, such as OPERA at Gran Sasso, as well as in an R&D programme on Liquid Argon detectors (WA-105) for future long baseline oscillation experiments (DUNE). We also participate in neutrino-less double beta decay searches through the SuperNEMO demonstrator, and in the search for sterile neutrinos with the STEREO detector.
STEREO is being installed at the Institute Laue-Langevin in Grenoble (France), 10 m away from one of the most compact nuclear reactors in the world. It utilizes a gadolinium-loaded liquid scintillator technology to precisely study the energy spectrum of the antineutrinos produced by the reactor. Oscillation into an eventual sterile neutrino will leave an unmistakable imprint on the energy spectrum. Our group is in charge of the radioactive
source calibration system, that will allow a precise control of the energy scale, as well as a characterization of the detector response in a broader sense (non uniformities, non-linearities, response to fast and slow neutrons, etc).
Data taking is expected to start in the Autumn of 2016 and last for 2 years. The successful candidate will have the chance to take part in the very first antineutrino data analysis. Furthermore, he/she will operate and exploit the calibration system, study the calibration data, and derive the relevant calibration quantities and corrections. Participation in detector operation shifts is also expected. Repeated trips to Grenoble (130 km
away from LAPP) are thus foreseen.