Sowjanya Gollapinni

"MicroBooNE and the path to DUNE"

Abstract
Neutrinos provide a promising window to probe a wide range of fundamental physics. Neutrino related 
discoveries in the last two decades indicate that the answer to the most sought after question of why 
we live in a matter-dominated universe maybe within reach. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment 
(DUNE) is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment at Fermilab with primary goals of resolving 
the neutrino mass hierarchy and measuring the charge-parity violating phase, the indicator of a possible 
explanation for our matter dominated universe. DUNE will use the promising liquid argon time projection 
chamber (LArTPC) technology as it provides high-resolution imaging of the particles produced by neutrino 
interactions. However, the path to DUNE is technologically very challenging as it will be the biggest, most 
intense neutrino experiment ever to be built. The MicroBooNE experiment, which is currently taking data 
with the Booster Neutrino Beam at Fermilab, serves as a design example for DUNE along with providing valuable 
experience in operating and calibrating large LArTPC detectors. MicroBooNE is also leading the way for an 
extensive short-baseline neutrino physics program at Fermilab. This talk will describe the MicroBooNE and DUNE 
experiments and highlight some recent results from MicroBooNE. A near term program of DUNE prototypes is also 
described along with addressing the technological challenges involved in constructing the DUNE experiment.