Status of a hybrid three-neutrino interpretation of neutrino data

We reanalyze the non-standard interaction (NSI) solutions to the solar neutrino problem in the light of the latest solar, atmospheric and reactor neutrino data. We show that such solutions, although preferred by the solar data and consistent with the oscillation description of the atmospheric neutrino data, are ruled out by the first results of the KamLAND reactor experiment, at more than 3_sigma.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX file using Elsart, 2 tables and 4 figures included. This version updates the one published in Nucl.Phys.B629:479-490,2002 by including the new KamLAND dat

MINERvA neutrino detector response measured with test beam data

The MINERvA collaboration operated a scaled down replica of the solid scintillator tracking and sampling calorimeter regions of the MlNERvA detector in a hadron test beam at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. This paper reports measurements with samples of protons, pions, and electrons from 0.35 to 2.0 GeV/c momentum. The calorimetric response to protons, pions, and electrons is obtained from these data. A measurement of the parameter in Birks\u27 law and an estimate of the tracking efficiency are extracted from the proton sample. Overall the data are well described by a Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation of the detector and particle interactions with agreements better than 4% for the calorimetric response, though some features of the data are not precisely modeled. These measurements are used to tune the MINERvA detector simulation and evaluate systematic uncertainties in support of the MINERvA neutrino cross-section measurement program. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V

A missense TGFB2 variant p.(Arg320Cys) causes a paradoxical and striking increase in aortic TGFB1/2 expression.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder with a range of cardiovascular, skeletal, craniofacial and cutaneous manifestations. LDS type 4 is caused by mutations in TGFβ ligand 2 (TGFB2) and based on the family pedigrees described to date, appears to have a milder clinical phenotype, often presenting with isolated aortic disease. We sought to investigate its molecular basis in a new pedigree. We identified a missense variant p.(Arg320Cys) (NM_003238.3) in a highly evolutionary conserved region of TGFB2 in a new LDS type 4 pedigree with multiple cases of aortic aneurysms and dissections. There was striking upregulation of TGFB1 and TGFB2 expression on immunofluorescent staining, and western blotting of the aortic tissue from the index case confirming the functional importance of the variant. This case highlights the striking paradox of predicted loss-of-function mutations in TGFB2 causing enhanced TGFβ signaling in this emerging familial aortopathy.Raya Al Maskari has a PhD studentship funded by the Omani government.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Publishing Group via https://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2016.14

Design, calibration, and performance of the MINERvA detector

The MINERvA(6) experiment is designed to perform precision studies of neutrino-nucleus scattering using nu(mu) and (nu) over bar (mu) neutrinos incident at 1-20 GeV in the NuMI beam at Fermilab. This article presents a detailed description of the MINERvA detector and describes the ex situ and in situ techniques employed to characterize the detector and monitor its performance. The detector is composed of a finely segmented scintillator-based inner tracking region surrounded by electromagnetic and hadronic sampling calorimetry. The upstream portion of the detector includes planes of graphite, iron and lead interleaved between tracking planes to facilitate the study of nuclear effects in neutrino interactions. Observations concerning the detector response over sustained periods of running are reported. The detector design and methods of operation have relevance to future neutrino experiments in which segmented scintillator tracking is utilized. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Measurement of the muon anti-neutrino double-differential cross section for quasi-elastic scattering on hydrocarbon at~Eν∼3.5E_\nu \sim 3.5 GeV

We present double-differential measurements of anti-neutrino quasi-elastic scattering in the MINERvA detector. This study improves on a previous single differential measurement by using updated reconstruction algorithms and interaction models, and provides a complete description of observed muon kinematics in the form of a double-differential cross section with respect to muon transverse and longitudinal momentum. We include in our signal definition zero-meson final states arising from multi-nucleon interactions and from resonant pion production followed by pion absorption in the primary nucleus. We find that model agreement is considerably improved by a model tuned to MINERvA inclusive neutrino scattering data that incorporates nuclear effects such as weak nuclear screening and two-particle, two-hole enhancements.Comment: 47 pages, 31 figure

Measurement of Total and Differential Cross Sections of Neutrino and Antineutrino Coherent π±\pi^\pm Production on Carbon

Neutrino induced coherent charged pion production on nuclei, $\overline{\nu}_\mu A\to\mu^\pm\pi^\mp A$, is a rare inelastic interaction in which the four-momentum squared transfered to the nucleus is nearly zero, leaving it intact. We identify such events in the scintillator of MINERvA by reconstructing |t| from the final state pion and muon momenta and by removing events with evidence of energetic nuclear recoil or production of other final state particles. We measure the total neutrino and antineutrino cross sections as a function of neutrino energy between 2 and 20 GeV and measure flux integrated differential cross sections as a function of $Q^2$, $E_\pi$ and $\theta_\pi$. The $Q^2$ dependence and equality of the neutrino and anti-neutrino cross-sections at finite $Q^2$ provide a confirmation of Adler's PCAC hypothesis

Confusing non-standard neutrino interactions with oscillations at a neutrino factory

Most neutrino mass theories contain non-standard interactions (NSI) of neutrinos which can be either non-universal (NU) or flavor-changing (FC). We study the impact of such interactions on the determination of neutrino mixing parameters at a neutrino factory using the so-called ``golden channels'' \pnu{e}\to\pnu{\mu} for the measurement of \theta_{13}. We show that a certain combination of FC interactions in neutrino source and earth matter can give exactly the same signal as oscillations arising due to \theta_{13}. This implies that information about \theta_{13} can only be obtained if bounds on NSI are available. Taking into account the existing bounds on FC interactions, this leads to a drastic loss in sensitivity in \theta_{13}, at least two orders of magnitude. A near detector at a neutrino factory offers the possibility to obtain stringent bounds on some NSI parameters. Such near site detector constitutes an essential ingredient of a neutrino factory and a necessary step towards the determination of \theta_{13} and subsequent study of leptonic CP violation.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, improved version, accepted for publication in Phs. Rev. D, references adde

Measurements of the inclusive neutrino and antineutrino charged current cross sections in MINERvA using the low-nu flux method

The total cross sections are important ingredients for the current and future neutrino oscillation experiments. We present measurements of the total charged-current neutrino and antineutrino cross sections on scintillator (CH) in the NuMI low-energy beamline using an in situ prediction of the shape of the flux as a function of neutrino energy from 2-50 GeV. This flux prediction takes advantage of the fact that neutrino and antineutrino interactions with low nuclear recoil energy (nu) have a nearly constant cross section as a function of incident neutrino energy. This measurement is the lowest energy application of the low-nu flux technique, the first time it has been used in the NuMI antineutrino beam configuration, and demonstrates that the technique is applicable to future neutrino beams operating at multi-GeVenergies. The cross section measurements presented are the most precise measurements to date below 5 GeV

Neutrino flux predictions for the NuMI beam

Knowledge of the neutrino flux produced by the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beamline is essential to the neutrino oscillation and neutrino interaction measurements of the MINERvA, MINOS+ NOvA and MicroBooNE experiments at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. We have produced a flux prediction which uses all available and relevant hadron production data, incorporating measurements of particle production off of thin targets as well as measurements of particle yields from a spare NuMI target exposed to a 120 GeV proton beam. The result is the most precise flux prediction achieved for a neutrino beam in the one to tens of GeV energy region. We have also compared the prediction to in situ measurements of the neutrino flux and find good agreement