294 research outputs found
Reducing model bias in a deep learning classifier using domain adversarial neural networks in the MINERvA experiment
We present a simulation-based study using deep convolutional neural networks
(DCNNs) to identify neutrino interaction vertices in the MINERvA passive
targets region, and illustrate the application of domain adversarial neural
networks (DANNs) in this context. DANNs are designed to be trained in one
domain (simulated data) but tested in a second domain (physics data) and
utilize unlabeled data from the second domain so that during training only
features which are unable to discriminate between the domains are promoted.
MINERvA is a neutrino-nucleus scattering experiment using the NuMI beamline at
Fermilab. -dependent cross sections are an important part of the physics
program, and these measurements require vertex finding in complicated events.
To illustrate the impact of the DANN we used a modified set of simulation in
place of physics data during the training of the DANN and then used the label
of the modified simulation during the evaluation of the DANN. We find that deep
learning based methods offer significant advantages over our prior track-based
reconstruction for the task of vertex finding, and that DANNs are able to
improve the performance of deep networks by leveraging available unlabeled data
and by mitigating network performance degradation rooted in biases in the
physics models used for training.Comment: 41 page
The T2K ND280 Off-Axis Pi-Zero Detector
The Pi-Zero detector (P{\O}D) is one of the subdetectors that makes up the
off-axis near detector for the Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) long baseline neutrino
experiment. The primary goal for the P{\O}D is to measure the relevant cross
sections for neutrino interactions that generate pi-zero's, especially the
cross section for neutral current pi-zero interactions, which are one of the
dominant sources of background to the electron neutrino appearance signal in
T2K. The P{\O}D is composed of layers of plastic scintillator alternating with
water bags and brass sheets or lead sheets and is one of the first detectors to
use Multi-Pixel Photon Counters (MPPCs) on a large scale.Comment: 17 pages, submitted to NIM
First evidence of coherent meson production in neutrino-nucleus scattering
Neutrino-induced charged-current coherent kaon production,
, is a rare, inelastic electroweak process
that brings a on shell and leaves the target nucleus intact in its ground
state. This process is significantly lower in rate than neutrino-induced
charged-current coherent pion production, because of Cabibbo suppression and a
kinematic suppression due to the larger kaon mass. We search for such events in
the scintillator tracker of MINERvA by observing the final state ,
and no other detector activity, and by using the kinematics of the final state
particles to reconstruct the small momentum transfer to the nucleus, which is a
model-independent characteristic of coherent scattering. We find the first
experimental evidence for the process at significance.Comment: added ancillary file with information about the six kaon candidate
Measurement of Total and Differential Cross Sections of Neutrino and Antineutrino Coherent Production on Carbon
Neutrino induced coherent charged pion production on nuclei,
, 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 , and
. The dependence and equality of the neutrino and
anti-neutrino cross-sections at finite provide a confirmation of Adler's
PCAC hypothesis
Single neutral pion production by charged-current interactions on hydrocarbon at 3.6 GeV
Single neutral pion production via muon antineutrino charged-current
interactions in plastic scintillator (CH) is studied using the \minerva
detector exposed to the NuMI low-energy, wideband antineutrino beam at
Fermilab. Measurement of this process constrains models of neutral pion
production in nuclei, which is important because the neutral-current analog is
a background for appearance oscillation experiments. The
differential cross sections for momentum and production angle, for
events with a single observed and no charged pions, are presented and
compared to model predictions. These results comprise the first measurement of
the kinematics for this process.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physics Letters
Measurement of Partonic Nuclear Effects in Deep-Inelastic Neutrino Scattering using MINERvA
The MINERvA collaboration reports a novel study of neutrino-nucleus
charged-current deep inelastic scattering (DIS) using the same neutrino beam
incident on targets of polystyrene, graphite, iron, and lead. Results are
presented as ratios of C, Fe, and Pb to CH. The ratios of total DIS cross
sections as a function of neutrino energy and flux-integrated differential
cross sections as a function of the Bjorken scaling variable x are presented in
the neutrino-energy range of 5 - 50 GeV. Good agreement is found between the
data and predicted ratios, based on charged-lepton nucleus scattering, at
medium x and low neutrino energies. However, the data rate appears depleted in
the vicinity of the nuclear shadowing region, x < 0.1. This apparent deficit,
reflected in the DIS cross-section ratio at high neutrino energy , is
consistent with previous MINERvA observations and with the predicted onset of
nuclear shadowing with the the axial-vector current in neutrino scattering
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