Long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiments present some of the most compelling paths toward physics beyond the standard model. Measurement of the leptonic mixing matrix through oscillation and observation of the degree of leptonic CP violation demonstrates a proof of concept for understanding the difference between matter and anti-matter in the observable universe. State of the art experiments like NOvA and T2K are currently performing measurements of neutrino oscillation, but ultimately, will be statistically limited. Future experiments, like DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande will propel the field into a new era of precision measurement with neutrinos however, uncertainty in neutrino-nucleus scattering represents an important source of systematic uncertainty in future experiments. Neutrino cross-section uncertainties can be reduced through high-statistics measurement of neutrino interactions on light nuclear targets, but creating a detector with an appropriate light target has proved elusive since the last of the hydrogen bubble chambers designed in the latter half of the previous century. Modern bubble chamber-based dark matter detectors like PICO and the Scintillating Bubble Chamber have demonstrated that advances in sensor technology, computing, and automation would allow a modern bubble chamber to fully utilize the megawatt scale intensity LBNF beam. This talk will discuss the physics programs of NOvA and DUNE as well as review the broad physics program of a neutrino focused hydrogen bubble chamber prototype called MAMBA, which is in development at Fermilab.
Host: Isaac Mooney