Measuring CP violation with a neutrino factory

We discuss the prospects of observing leptonic CP violation at a neutrino factory in the context of the standard three neutrino scenario. If the large mixing angle MSW effect turned out to account For the solar neutrino deficit, we show that observing an asymmetry between the nu(e) --> nu(mu) and <(nu)over bar>(e) --> <(nu)over bar>(mu) oscillation probabilities would represent an exciting experimental challenge. We determine the portion of the parameter space where evidence could be found as a function of the intensity of the muon source and of the detector size for different baselines. We discuss the consequent requirements on a neutrino factory. We address the problems associated with asymmetries induced by the experimental apparatus and by matter effects. Finally, we emphasize the importance of measuring two CP-conjugated channels in order to precisely determine theta(13). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.