Neutrino oscillation experiments provide a unique window in exploring several new physics scenarios beyond the standard three flavour. One such scenario is quantum decoherence in neutrino oscillation which tends to destroy the interference pattern of neutrinos reaching the far detector from the source. In this work, we study the decoherence in neutrino oscillation in the context of the ESSnuSB experiment. We consider the energy-independent decoherence parameter and derive the analytical expressions for Pμe and Pμμ probabilities in vacuum. We have computed the capability of ESSnuSB to put bounds on the decoherence parameters namely, Γ21 and Γ32 and found that the constraints on Γ21 are competitive compared to the DUNE bounds and better than the most stringent LBL ones from MINOS/MINOS+. We have also investigated the impact of decoherence on the ESSnuSB measurement of the Dirac CP phase δCP and concluded that it remains robust in the presence of new physics.

This study provides an analysis of atmospheric neutrino oscillations at the ESSnuSB far detector facility. The prospects of the two cylindrical Water Cherenkov detectors with a total fiducial mass of 540 kt are investigated over 10 years of data taking in the standard three-flavor oscillation scenario. We present the confidence intervals for the determination of mass ordering, θ23 octant as well as for the precisions on sin2 θ23 and |Δm312|. It is shown that mass ordering can be resolved by 3σ CL (5σ CL) after 4 years (10 years) regardless of the true neutrino mass ordering. Correspondingly, the wrong θ23 octant could be excluded by 3σ CL after 4 years (8 years) in the case where the true neutrino mass ordering is normal ordering (inverted ordering). The results presented in this work are complementary to the accelerator neutrino program in the ESSnuSB project.

ESSνSB is a design study for a next-generation long-baseline neutrino experiment that aims at the precise measurement of the CP-violating phase, δCP, in the leptonic sector at the second oscillation maximum. The conceptual design report published from the first phase of the project showed that after 10 years of data taking, more than 70% of the possible δCP range will be covered with 5σ C.L. to reject the no-CP-violation hypothesis. The expected value of δCP precision is smaller than 8◦ for all δCP values. The next phase of the project, the ESSνSB+, aims at using the intense muon flux produced together with neutrinos to measure the neutrino-nucleus cross-section, the dominant term of the systematic uncertainty, in the energy range of 0.2–0.6 GeV, using a Low Energy neutrinos from STORed Muons (LEnuSTORM) and a Low Energy Monitored Neutrino Beam (LEMNB) facilities.

In this paper, we study scalar mediator induced nonstandard interactions (SNSIs) in the context of the ESSnuSB experiment. In particular, we study the capability of ESSnuSB to put bounds on the SNSI parameters and also study the impact of SNSIs in the measurement of the leptonic CP phase δ_CP. Existence of SNSIs modifies the neutrino mass matrix and this modification can be expressed in terms of three diagonal real parameters (η_ee, η_μμ, and η_ττ) and three off-diagonal complex parameters (η_eμ, η_eτ, and η_μτ). Our study shows that the upper bounds on the parameters η_μμ and η_ττ depend upon how Δm²₃₁ is minimized in the theory. However, this is not the case when one tries to measure the impact of SNSIs on δ_CP. Further, we show that the CP sensitivity of ESSnuSB can be completely lost for certain values of ηee and ημτ for which the appearance channel probability becomes independent of δ_CP.

High walls of open stopes in underground stoping mines can be considered to behave in a similar manner to open pit slopes if stability is largely controlled by geological structures. With this assumption the kinematic method of analyses can be used to assess the stability of the footwall, hangingwall, the roof and floor of an open stope. This paper demonstrates the application of kinematic analyses tools such as Rocscience’s DIPS® and UNWEDGE® to assess the stability of underground stopes in a narrow vein mine. A back analysis was conducted, using both kinematic methods and the empirical stability graph method, after field investigation of stope failures and review of stope closure reports. The stability graph method showed that the designed stopes were stable with support. However, majority of the stopes audited have apparently failed or were in state of failure, i.e., unstable. Kinematic analyses showed that these stopes were certainly at risk of failure which confirmed the observations. The stability chart used by the mine was eventually adjusted based on the kinematic analyses and observations made, resulting in the stability graph having only three regions: stable, unstable and fail.

Presently under construction in Lund, Sweden, the European Spallation Source (ESS) will be the world’s brightest neutron source. As such, it has the potential for a particle physics program with a unique reach and which is complementary to that available at other facilities. This paper describes proposed particle physics activities for the ESS. These encompass the exploitation of both the neutrons and neutrinos produced at the ESS for high precision (sensitivity) measurements (searches).

ESSnuSB is a design study for an experiment to measure the CP violation in the leptonic sector at the second neutrino oscillation maximum using a neutrino beam driven by the uniquely powerful ESS linear accelerator. The reduced impact of systematic errors on sensitivity at the second maximum allows for a very precise measurement of the CP violating parameter. This review describes the fundamental advantages of measurement at the second maximum, the necessary upgrades to the ESS linac in order to produce a neutrino beam, the near and far detector complexes, and the expected physics reach of the proposed ESSnuSB experiment, concluding with the near future developments aimed at the project realization.

Canals and tunnels in hydropower plants must be able to receive high shock-like flows without damaging either the dam or the rock foundation. Although the canals often consist of rock, erosion can occur when water is released. The natural riverbeds and lakes in Sweden usually run along large faults and other zones of weakness in the rock. This is because the water could more easily erode its way along these weakness zones. Spillways of hydropower dams are generally unlined thereby exposing the bedrock to erosion during floods.This study focuses on block erosion mechanisms and characteristics in unlined spillway canals that comprises hard rock mass systems. Two hydropower dam spillway canals were investigated as case studies; identified as Dam1 and Dam 2. The spillway canals of these two dams have uniquely different bed rock characteristics. At Dam 1 the rock mass is very blocky with visually estimated GSI classification in the range of 50 to 70, while Dam 2 is composed of massive rock mass with visually assessed GSI classification of 70 to 90.The erosion characteristics observed in these two spillway canals are uniquely different. The rock mass is obviously the principal factor contributing to these observations. However, there are also other factors, namely the hydraulic factors, as well as the geometrical factors of the canals. In this report these factors have been described in detail.  Three main mechanisms of block erosion were observed, (i) removal or plucking of rock blocks, (ii) fracturing of intact rock blocks and (iii) abrasion. At Dam 1 spillway canal all three mechanisms were observed to be significantly evident. At Dam 2, abrasion is the dominant mechanism of erosion. Hydraulic parameters, water pressure and velocity, affect the criticality of the erosion.Numerical simulations of the spillway canals were conducted using 3DEC. These simulations show that block displacements greater than 10 m are experienced within 1 to 2 minutes of flow. This observation is consistent with observations made during an actual discharge from a dam. Numerical simulations indicated that blocks with sizes less than 1 m3 would easily be plucked and transported downstream. If they are intact and with unfavourable geometry, they can be easily fractured by the spill water loads. Field investigations support these observations.Remedial measures would first require classification of a spillway canal into erosion domains based on erosion vulnerability. For example, the upstream sections of the channels are typically vulnerable to high intensity erosion. Hydraulic jumps, plunge pools, stilling basins, etc, have been typically used to break up the energy before the water flows downstream. However, erosion still occurs further down since the energy is still very large. Reinforcing the bedrock with artificial supports such as rock bolting, widening and levelling of canals, diverting the flow to less vulnerable areas of the canal, etc, have been some means to reduce block erosion. This study concludes that, remedial measures must start with identifying the mechanisms of block erosion, three of which have been described above. Domaining of the channels into erosion critically domains may also assist in monitoring and application of remedial measures. Empirical methods, such as Pells (2016) can be applied in each domain to identify their erosion potential. This study also concludes that the hydraulic pressure and displacements that occur around a rock block needs to be further investigated, either by field measurements in a spillway or by using physical models. In this way, it will be possible to better understand the conditions around blocks in a spillway and erosion mechanisms during a discharge.

The LKAB’s Malmberget mine in Sweden is one of the largest sublevel caving mines in the world, with an annual production rate averaging 18 million tons. This high rate of production at depth (>1,000 m) creates significant mining-induced stress redistribution on a global scale. At a production-level scale, this redistribution results in undesirable amounts of deformation in the entries and typically leads to general degradation in the footwall contact zones. This is exacerbated by highly varied geological and geotechnical characteristics of the lithology often found in the contact zone. To better understand the impact of mininginduced stress on production level entries, a study was conducted to measure stress changes and associated deformation over a two year period, as mining progressed in the vicinity of the instrumentation. Three-dimensional relative stress measurements using digital hollow inclusion stress cells and multiple-point borehole extensometer measurements were combined with convergence and floor heave measurements and regular damage mapping throughout the contact zone to better understand the evolution of damage in these areas. A site-specific Entry Condition Rating (ECR) system was developed to help geomechanics better track and understand the expected performance of the crosscut given the current state of mining. The result of the work is a better understanding of where and when damage is expected to occur, and the ability to properly time the installation of secondary support in a pre-emptive manner.