Solar neutrinos at DUNE

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, DUNE, is a future long-baseline neutrino experiment, starting from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, FNAL, to the Sanford Underground Research Facility, SURF. The far detector complex at SURF will consist of four 17-ktonne liquid-argon time projection chambers, LArT- PCs. DUNE’s long-baseline physics program aims to evaluate neutrino oscillation parameters, the CP-violating phase, δCP , and determine the neutrino mass hierarchy. DUNE’s low-energy physics program aims to observe solar neutrinos and those em- anating from core-collapse supernovae. The low-energy program relies on carefully controlled systematic uncertainties and well-understood radiological backgrounds, pertinent at the O(1 − 100) MeV domain. This thesis presents two analyses. The first is a detailed examination of the radiolog- ical neutrons at DUNE. Neutron capture on argon can be confused with low-energy neutrino interactions. We know neutrons emanate from the cavern walls, aggre- gate construction materials and various types of steel, including those used within the DUNE cryostats. With improvements to the simulation geometry and energy spectra informed by elemental spectroscopy on material samples, the total neutron capture rate is estimated to be 3.05 ± 0.13 captures / 10 ktonne-second. Secondly, the improvements required of a far detector module to observe CNO neu- trinos are discussed. Inconsistencies in available solar neutrino data imply two pos- sible neutrino fluxes relating to higher and lower solar metallicity models. Under DUNE’s baseline configuration, CNO neutrino observation is unlikely. However, a low-background far detector module with improved systematic uncertainties would allow for an almost 5σ measurement of CNO neutrinos under a high metallicity model. Additionally, DUNE could separate the high from low metallicity model at a > 3σ confidence level. This measurement would resolve the solar metallicity discrepancy

Solar neutrinos at DUNE

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, DUNE, is a future long-baseline neutrino experiment, starting from the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, FNAL, to the Sanford Underground Research Facility, SURF. The far detector complex at SURF will consist of four 17-ktonne liquid-argon time projection chambers, LArT- PCs. DUNE’s long-baseline physics program aims to evaluate neutrino oscillation parameters, the CP-violating phase, dCP , and determine the neutrino mass hierarchy. DUNE’s low-energy physics program aims to observe solar neutrinos and those em- anating from core-collapse supernovae. The low-energy program relies on carefully controlled systematic uncertainties and well-understood radiological backgrounds, pertinent at the O(1 - 100) MeV domain. This thesis presents two analyses. The first is a detailed examination of the radiolog- ical neutrons at DUNE. Neutron capture on argon can be confused with low-energy neutrino interactions. We know neutrons emanate from the cavern walls, aggre- gate construction materials and various types of steel, including those used within the DUNE cryostats. With improvements to the simulation geometry and energy spectra informed by elemental spectroscopy on material samples, the total neutron capture rate is estimated to be 3.05 ± 0.13 captures / 10 ktonne-second. Secondly, the improvements required of a far detector module to observe CNO neu- trinos are discussed. Inconsistencies in available solar neutrino data imply two pos- sible neutrino fluxes relating to higher and lower solar metallicity models. Under DUNE’s baseline configuration, CNO neutrino observation is unlikely. However, a low-background far detector module with improved systematic uncertainties would allow for an almost 5s measurement of CNO neutrinos under a high metallicity model. Additionally, DUNE could separate the high from low metallicity model at a > 3s confidence level. This measurement would resolve the solar metallicity discrepancy

Design, construction and operation of the ProtoDUNE-SP Liquid Argon TPC

The ProtoDUNE-SP detector is a single-phase liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) that was constructed and operated in the CERN North Area at the end of the H4 beamline. This detector is a prototype for the first far detector module of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), which will be constructed at the Sandford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, U.S.A. The ProtoDUNE-SP detector incorporates full-size components as designed for DUNE and has an active volume of 7 × 6 × 7.2 m3. The H4 beam delivers incident particles with well-measured momenta and high-purity particle identification. ProtoDUNE-SP's successful operation between 2018 and 2020 demonstrates the effectiveness of the single-phase far detector design. This paper describes the design, construction, assembly and operation of the detector components

Prospects for beyond the Standard Model physics searches at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be a powerful tool for a variety of physics topics. The high-intensity proton beams provide a large neutrino flux, sampled by a near detector system consisting of a combination of capable precision detectors, and by the massive far detector system located deep underground. This configuration sets up DUNE as a machine for discovery, as it enables opportunities not only to perform precision neutrino measurements that may uncover deviations from the present three-flavor mixing paradigm, but also to discover new particles and unveil new interactions and symmetries beyond those predicted in the Standard Model (SM). Of the many potential beyond the Standard Model (BSM) topics DUNE will probe, this paper presents a selection of studies quantifying DUNE’s sensitivities to sterile neutrino mixing, heavy neutral leptons, non-standard interactions, CPT symmetry violation, Lorentz invariance violation, neutrino trident production, dark matter from both beam induced and cosmogenic sources, baryon number violation, and other new physics topics that complement those at high-energy colliders and significantly extend the present reach

Neutrino interaction classification with a convolutional neural network in the DUNE far detector

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Searching for solar KDAR with DUNE

The observation of 236 MeV muon neutrinos from kaon-decay-at-rest (KDAR) originating in the core of the Sun would provide a unique signature of dark matter annihilation. Since excellent angle and energy reconstruction are necessary to detect this monoenergetic, directional neutrino flux, DUNE with its vast volume and reconstruction capabilities, is a promising candidate for a KDAR neutrino search. In this work, we evaluate the proposed KDAR neutrino search strategies by realistically modeling both neutrino-nucleus interactions and the response of DUNE. We find that, although reconstruction of the neutrino energy and direction is difficult with current techniques in the relevant energy range, the superb energy resolution, angular resolution, and particle identification offered by DUNE can still permit great signal/background discrimination. Moreover, there are non-standard scenarios in which searches at DUNE for KDAR in the Sun can probe dark matter interactions

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6 × 6 × 6 m3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019–2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties

Supernova neutrino burst detection with the deep underground neutrino experiment

The deep underground neutrino experiment (DUNE), a 40-kton underground liquid argon time projection chamber experiment, will be sensitive to the electron-neutrino flavor component of the burst of neutrinos expected from the next Galactic core-collapse supernova. Such an observation will bring unique insight into the astrophysics of core collapse as well as into the properties of neutrinos. The general capabilities of DUNE for neutrino detection in the relevant few- to few-tens-of-MeV neutrino energy range will be described. As an example, DUNE’s ability to constrain the ?e spectral parameters of the neutrino burst will be considered

Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), far detector technical design report, volume III: DUNE far detector technical coordination

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early universe, the dynamics of the supernovae that produced the heavy elements necessary for life, and whether protons eventually decay—these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our universe, its current state, and its eventual fate. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is an international world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions as it searches for leptonic charge-parity symmetry violation, stands ready to capture supernova neutrino bursts, and seeks to observe nucleon decay as a signature of a grand unified theory underlying the standard model. The DUNE far detector technical design report (TDR) describes the DUNE physics program and the technical designs of the single- and dual-phase DUNE liquid argon TPC far detector modules. Volume III of this TDR describes how the activities required to design, construct, fabricate, install, and commission the DUNE far detector modules are organized and managed. This volume details the organizational structures that will carry out and/or oversee the planned far detector activities safely, successfully, on time, and on budget. It presents overviews of the facilities, supporting infrastructure, and detectors for context, and it outlines the project-related functions and methodologies used by the DUNE technical coordination organization, focusing on the areas of integration engineering, technical reviews, quality assurance and control, and safety oversight. Because of its more advanced stage of development, functional examples presented in this volume focus primarily on the single-phase (SP) detector module

Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), far detector technical design report, volume IV: far detector single-phase technology

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early universe, the dynamics of the supernovae that produced the heavy elements necessary for life, and whether protons eventually decay—these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our universe, its current state, and its eventual fate. DUNE is an international world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions as it searches for leptonic charge-parity symmetry violation, stands ready to capture supernova neutrino bursts, and seeks to observe nucleon decay as a signature of a grand unified theory underlying the standard model. Central to achieving DUNE's physics program is a far detector that combines the many tens-of-kiloton fiducial mass necessary for rare event searches with sub-centimeter spatial resolution in its ability to image those events, allowing identification of the physics signatures among the numerous backgrounds. In the single-phase liquid argon time-projection chamber (LArTPC) technology, ionization charges drift horizontally in the liquid argon under the influence of an electric field towards a vertical anode, where they are read out with fine granularity. A photon detection system supplements the TPC, directly enhancing physics capabilities for all three DUNE physics drivers and opening up prospects for further physics explorations. The DUNE far detector technical design report (TDR) describes the DUNE physics program and the technical designs of the single- and dual-phase DUNE liquid argon TPC far detector modules. Volume IV presents an overview of the basic operating principles of a single-phase LArTPC, followed by a description of the DUNE implementation. Each of the subsystems is described in detail, connecting the high-level design requirements and decisions to the overriding physics goals of DUNE