Neutron Shielding Optimization Studies

The IsoDAR sterile-neutrino search calls for a high neutron flux from a 60 MeV proton beam striking a beryllium target, that flood a sleeve of highly-enriched 7Li, the beta-decay of the resulting 8Li giving the desired neutrinos for the veryshort-baseline experiment. The target is placed very close to an existing large neutrino detector; all such existing or planned detectors are deep underground, in low-background environments. It is necessary to design a shielding enclosure to prevent neutrons from causing unacceptable activation of the environment. GEANT4 is being used to study neutron attenuation, and optimising the layers of shielding material to minimize thickness. Materials being studied include iron and two new types of concrete developed by Jefferson Laboratory, one very light with shredded plastic aggregate, the other with high quantities of boron. Initial studies indicate that a total shielding thickness of 1.5 meters produces the required attenuation factor, further studies may allow decrease in thickness. Minimising it will reduce the amount of cavity excavation needed to house the target system in confined underground spaces

Sterile neutrino fits to short baseline data

Neutrino oscillation models involving extra mass eigenstates beyond the standard three (3+N) are fit to global short baseline experimental data. We find that 3+1 has a best fit of Δm[subscript 41][superscript 2] = 1.75 eV[superscript 2] with a Δχ[subscript null-min][superscript 2] (dof) of 52.34 (3). The 3+2 fit has a Δχ[subscript null-min][superscript 2] (dof) of 56.99 (7). For the first time, we show Bayesian credible intervals for a 3+1 model. These are found to be in agreement with frequentist intervals. The results of these new fits favor a higher Δm2 value than previous studies, which may have an impact on future sterile neutrino searches such as the Fermilab SBN program.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1505858)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1505855

High Power Cyclotrons for the Neutrino Experiments DAEδALUS and IsoDAR

DAEδALUS (Decay At rest Experiment for δcp At a Laboratory for Underground Science) has been proposed to measure the value of the CP violating phase delta through the oscillation of low energy muon anti-neutrinos to electron antineutrinos. With a single large detector, three accelerators at different distances enable the oscillation to be measured with sufficient accuracy. We have proposed the superconducting multi-megawatt DAEδALUS Supercinducting Ring Cyclotron (DSRC) as the means of producing the 800 MeV 12 mA protons required, through the acceleration of H2+, ions with highly efficient stripping extraction. The DSRC comprises twin ion sources and injector cyclotrons, followed by a booster. The injector cyclotron can also be used for a separate experiment, IsoDAR (Isotope Decay At Rest) in which low energy protons produce Lithium 8, and thus a very pure electron antineutrino source which can be used to measure, or rule out, short range oscillation to a sterile neutrino. We describe recent developments in the designs of the injector and the booster, and the prospects for the two experiments

R2D2 - a symmetric measurement of reactor neutrinos free of systematical errors

We discuss a symmetric setup for a reactor neutrino oscillation experiment consisting of two reactors separated by about 1 km, and two symmetrically placed detectors, one close to each reactor. We show that such a configuration allows a determination of $\sin^22\theta_{13}$ which is essentially free of systematical errors, if it is possible to separate the contributions of the two reactors in each detector sufficiently. This can be achieved either by considering data when in an alternating way only one reactor is running or by directional sensitivity obtained from the neutron displacement in the detector.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, clarifications added, some numbers in relation with the neutron displacement corrected, version to appear in JHE

Observation of prompt single muons and of missing energy associated with μ+μ−\mu^{+}\mu^{-} pairs produced in hadronic interactions

In a study of interactions of 400 GeV protons in a totally absorbing iron calorimeter the authors report two observations indicating the hadronic production of heavy short-lived weakly decaying particles. First they have observed a prompt muon signal in the region .8<p/sub t /<2.5 GeV/c. The rate is comparable in magnitude to the prompt 2 mu rate in the same kinematic region. In addition to detecting mu /sup +/ mu /sup -/ events arising from electromagnetic sources (e.g. rho to mu /sup +/ mu /sup -/, psi to mu /sup +/ mu /sup -/ etc.) they have observed mu /sup +/ mu /sup -/ pairs associated with a significant amount of missing energy indicative of final state neutrinos. Interpreting these data as production of DD pairs followed by single or double muonic decays leads to a model dependent estimate of total production cross-section of order 15 mu b. (14 refs)

First Observation of Coherent π0\pi^0 Production in Neutrino Nucleus Interactions with Eν<E_{\nu}< 2 GeV

The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab has amassed the largest sample to date of $\pi^0$s produced in neutral current (NC) neutrino-nucleus interactions at low energy. This paper reports a measurement of the momentum distribution of $\pi^0$s produced in mineral oil (CH$_2$) and the first observation of coherent $\pi^0$ production below 2 GeV. In the forward direction, the yield of events observed above the expectation for resonant production is attributed primarily to coherent production off carbon, but may also include a small contribution from diffractive production on hydrogen. Integrated over the MiniBooNE neutrino flux, the sum of the NC coherent and diffractive modes is found to be (19.5 $\pm$1.1 (stat) $\pm$2.5 (sys))% of all exclusive NC $\pi^0$ production at MiniBooNE. These measurements are of immediate utility because they quantify an important background to MiniBooNE's search for $\nu_{\mu} \to \nu_e$ oscillations.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Lett.

Measurement of the Charged Multiplicities in b, c and Light Quark Events from Z0 Decays

Average charged multiplicities have been measured separately in $b$, $c$ and light quark ($u,d,s$) events from $Z^0$ decays measured in the SLD experiment. Impact parameters of charged tracks were used to select enriched samples of $b$ and light quark events, and reconstructed charmed mesons were used to select $c$ quark events. We measured the charged multiplicities: $\bar{n}_{uds} = 20.21 \pm 0.10 (\rm{stat.})\pm 0.22(\rm{syst.})$, $\bar{n}_{c} = 21.28 \pm 0.46(\rm{stat.}) ^{+0.41}_{-0.36}(\rm{syst.})$ $\bar{n}_{b} = 23.14 \pm 0.10(\rm{stat.}) ^{+0.38}_{-0.37}(\rm{syst.})$, from which we derived the differences between the total average charged multiplicities of $c$ or $b$ quark events and light quark events: $\Delta \bar{n}_c = 1.07 \pm 0.47(\rm{stat.})^{+0.36}_{-0.30}(\rm{syst.})$ and $\Delta \bar{n}_b = 2.93 \pm 0.14(\rm{stat.})^{+0.30}_{-0.29}(\rm{syst.})$. We compared these measurements with those at lower center-of-mass energies and with perturbative QCD predictions. These combined results are in agreement with the QCD expectations and disfavor the hypothesis of flavor-independent fragmentation.Comment: 19 pages LaTex, 4 EPS figures, to appear in Physics Letters

Test of Lorentz and CPT violation with Short Baseline Neutrino Oscillation Excesses

The sidereal time dependence of MiniBooNE electron neutrino and anti-electron neutrino appearance data are analyzed to search for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. An unbinned Kolmogorov-Smirnov test shows both the electron neutrino and anti-electron neutrino appearance data are compatible with the null sidereal variation hypothesis to more than 5%. Using an unbinned likelihood fit with a Lorentz-violating oscillation model derived from the Standard Model Extension (SME) to describe any excess events over background, we find that the electron neutrino appearance data prefer a sidereal time-independent solution, and the anti-electron neutrino appearance data slightly prefer a sidereal time-dependent solution. Limits of order 10E-20 GeV are placed on combinations of SME coefficients. These limits give the best limits on certain SME coefficients for muon neutrino to electron neutrino and anti-muon neutrino to anti-electron neutrino oscillations. The fit values and limits of combinations of SME coefficients are provided.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, and 2 tables, submitted to Physics Letters

Identification and reconstruction of low-energy electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector

International audienceMeasurements of electrons from νe interactions are crucial for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) neutrino oscillation program, as well as searches for physics beyond the standard model, supernova neutrino detection, and solar neutrino measurements. This article describes the selection and reconstruction of low-energy (Michel) electrons in the ProtoDUNE-SP detector. ProtoDUNE-SP is one of the prototypes for the DUNE far detector, built and operated at CERN as a charged particle test beam experiment. A sample of low-energy electrons produced by the decay of cosmic muons is selected with a purity of 95%. This sample is used to calibrate the low-energy electron energy scale with two techniques. An electron energy calibration based on a cosmic ray muon sample uses calibration constants derived from measured and simulated cosmic ray muon events. Another calibration technique makes use of the theoretically well-understood Michel electron energy spectrum to convert reconstructed charge to electron energy. In addition, the effects of detector response to low-energy electron energy scale and its resolution including readout electronics threshold effects are quantified. Finally, the relation between the theoretical and reconstructed low-energy electron energy spectrum is derived and the energy resolution is characterized. The low-energy electron selection presented here accounts for about 75% of the total electron deposited energy. After the addition of missing energy using a Monte Carlo simulation, the energy resolution improves from about 40% to 25% at 50 MeV. These results are used to validate the expected capabilities of the DUNE far detector to reconstruct low-energy electrons