Performance of the MIND detector at a Neutrino Factory using realistic muon reconstruction

A Neutrino Factory producing an intense beam composed of nu_e(nubar_e) and nubar_mu(nu_mu) from muon decays has been shown to have the greatest sensitivity to the two currently unmeasured neutrino mixing parameters, theta_13 and delta_CP . Using the `wrong-sign muon' signal to measure nu_e to nu_mu(nubar_e to nubar_mu) oscillations in a 50 ktonne Magnetised Iron Neutrino Detector (MIND) sensitivity to delta_CP could be maintained down to small values of theta_13. However, the detector efficiencies used in previous studies were calculated assuming perfect pattern recognition. In this paper, MIND is re-assessed taking into account, for the first time, a realistic pattern recognition for the muon candidate. Reoptimisation of the analysis utilises a combination of methods, including a multivariate analysis similar to the one used in MINOS, to maintain high efficiency while suppressing backgrounds, ensuring that the signal selection efficiency and the background levels are comparable or better than the ones in previous analyses

Status of MIND

The Magnetised Iron Neutrino Detector (MIND) has been identied as the ideal candidate for the de-tection of the golden \wrong sign muon " channel at a Neutrino Factory. However, previous analyses of the channel relied on a parameterisation of the detector performance which assumed pefect muon pattern recog-nition. For the rst time, a study of the muon reconstruction eciency involvoing full pattern recognition has been carried out. Using a simple pattern recognition algorithm it is shown that past results assuming perfect muon identication can already be reproduced after one simple cut

Initial results from the HARP experiment at CERN

Initial results on particle yields obtained by the HARP experiment are presented. The measurements correspond to proton--nucleus collisions at beam energies of 12.9 $GeV/c$ and for a thin Al target of 5% interacion legth. The angular range considered is between 10 and 250 $mrad$. This results are the first step in the upcoming measurement of the forward production cross-section for the same target and beam energy, relevant for the calculation of the far--to--near ratio of the K2K experiment.Comment: Presented at the Neutrino 2004 Internation Conferenc

Distribution of Planorbulinacea (benthic foraminifera) assemblages in surface sediments on the northern margin of the Gulf of Cadiz

The distributional patterns and related environmental parameters for four species of benthic foraminifera of the Superfamily Planorbulinacea occurring in surface sediments from the northeast Gulf of Cadiz are discussed. Their distribution is related to bathymetry, in the case of Hyalinea balthica (Schröter, 1783), and to the texture of the sediments in the area for the other three, Cibicides refulgens (Montfort, 1808), Lobatula lobatula (Walter and Jacob, 1798) and Planorbulina mediterranensis (d´Orbigny 1826). Two characteristic assemblages were differentiated with Q-mode analysis: F1 (H. balthica), affected mainly by water depth; and F2 (C. refulgens and L. lobatula), related to the substrate, typical of high-energy/low sedimentation rate environments.Se ha determinado el área de distribución de las cuatro especies de foraminíferos bentónicos de la superfamilia Planorbulinacea encontrados en los sedimentos superficiales del margen septentrional del golfo de Cádiz. Su distribución está relacionada, en el caso de Hyalinea balthica (Schröter, 1783), con la batimetría, y las otras tres, Cibicides refulgens (Montfort 1808), Lobatula lobatula (Walter and Jacob, 1798) y Planorbulina mediterranensis (d'Orbigny, 1826) con las características texturales del sedimento. Hay dos asociaciones características: F1 (H. balthica) afectada principalmente por la profundidad en el dominio del agua noratlántica central y F2 (C. refulgens y L. lobatula) relacionada con el substrato, propia de ambientes de alta energía y baja tasa de sedimentación.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Future neutrino oscillation facilities

The recent discovery that neutrinos have masses opens a wide new field of experimentation. Accelerator-made neutrinos are essential in this program. Ideas for future facilities include high intensity muon neutrino beams from pion decay (`SuperBeam'), electron neutrino beams from nuclei decays (`Beta Beam'), or muon and electron neutrino beams from muon decay (`Neutrino Factory'), each associated with one or several options for detector systems. Each option offers synergetic possibilities, e.g. some of the detectors can be used for proton decay searches, while the Neutrino Factory is a first step towards muon colliders. A summary of the perceived virtues and shortcomings of the various options, and a number of open questions are presented.Comment: Originally written for the CERN Strategy Grou

The recent uvigerinids (benthic foraminifera) in the northeastern Gulf of Cadiz

The distributional patterns and related environmental parameters for nine Uvigerina (benthic foraminifera) species occurring in the northeast Gulf of Cadiz are discussed. A new species (Uvigerina pusilla n. sp.) is described. Two assemblages (F1: Uvigerina peregrina and F2: Rectuvigerina phlegeri) are characteristic of the distribution of uvigerinids in this region, related to bathymetry and the mud-sand substrate in North Atlantic Superficial and Central water.Se ha determinado el área de distribución de los uvigerínidos (foraminíferos bentónicos) en el noreste del golfo de Cádiz, donde se han encontrado nueve especies. Su distribución está relacionada con las características texturales y geoquímicas del sedimento. Se ha descrito una especie nueva (Uvigerina pusilla nov. es.). Mediante análisis factorial y regresión multilineal se han diferenciado dos asociaciones, F1 (Uvigerina peregrina) y F2 (Rectuvigerina phlegeri) relacionadas con las características batimétricas y geoquímicas del medio, en la zona de influencia del agua superficial y central noratlántica.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Detectors for leptonic CP violation at the neutrino factory

Studies carried out in the framework of the International Design Study for the Neutrino Factory (the IDS-NF) show that the sensitivity to the CP violating phase and the last unknown mixing angle θ13 is maximised when two far detectors optimized to detect the sub-leading νe to νμ oscillation are combined. Several technologies are being discussed for these detectors: magnetised iron calorimeters; giant liquid argon TPCs; and totally active scintillating detectors. The IDS-NF baseline option, a compromise between feasibility, cost, and performance, is documented in the Interim Design Report (IDR) that has recently been completed. It consists of two magnetised iron sampling calorimeters, similar to the existing MINOS detector, but with 10-20 times more mass and improved performance. A detector of mass 100 kton is assumed at the intermediate baseline (between 2500 km and 5000 km) and a 50 kton detector at the long baseline (between 7000 km and 8000 km). The other far-detector options, which have better granularity, may be able to detect additional oscillation channels, thus improving the overall performance of the facility. However, these options are likely to be more expensive and require significant R&D

A Novel Generic Framework for Track Fitting in Complex Detector Systems

This paper presents a novel framework for track fitting which is usable in a wide range of experiments, independent of the specific event topology, detector setup, or magnetic field arrangement. This goal is achieved through a completely modular design. Fitting algorithms are implemented as interchangeable modules. At present, the framework contains a validated Kalman filter. Track parameterizations and the routines required to extrapolate the track parameters and their covariance matrices through the experiment are also implemented as interchangeable modules. Different track parameterizations and extrapolation routines can be used simultaneously for fitting of the same physical track. Representations of detector hits are the third modular ingredient to the framework. The hit dimensionality and orientation of planar tracking detectors are not restricted. Tracking information from detectors which do not measure the passage of particles in a fixed physical detector plane, e.g. drift chambers or TPCs, is used without any simplifications. The concept is implemented in a light-weight C++ library called GENFIT, which is available as free software

The Golden Channel at a Neutrino Factory revisited: improved sensitivities from a Magnetised Iron Neutrino Detector

This paper describes the performance and sensitivity to neutrino mixing parameters of a Magnetised Iron Neutrino Detector (MIND) at a Neutrino Factory with a neutrino beam created from the decay of 10 GeV muons. Specifically, it is concerned with the ability of such a detector to detect muons of the opposite sign to those stored (wrong-sign muons) while suppressing contamination of the signal from the interactions of other neutrino species in the beam. A new more realistic simulation and analysis, which improves the efficiency of this detector at low energies, has been developed using the GENIE neutrino event generator and the GEANT4 simulation toolkit. Low energy neutrino events down to 1 GeV were selected, while reducing backgrounds to the $10^{-4}$ level. Signal efficiency plateaus of ~60% for $\nu_\mu$ and ~70% for $\bar{\nu}_\mu$ events were achieved starting at ~5 GeV. Contamination from the $\nu_\mu\rightarrow \nu_\tau$ oscillation channel was studied for the first time and was found to be at the level between 1% and 4%. Full response matrices are supplied for all the signal and background channels from 1 GeV to 10 GeV. The sensitivity of an experiment involving a MIND detector of 100 ktonnes at 2000 km from the Neutrino Factory is calculated for the case of $\sin^2 2\theta_{13}\sim 10^{-1}$. For this value of $\theta_{13}$, the accuracy in the measurement of the CP violating phase is estimated to be $\Delta \delta_{CP}\sim 3^\circ - 5^\circ$, depending on the value of $\delta_{CP}$, the CP coverage at $5\sigma$ is 85% and the mass hierarchy would be determined with better than $5\sigma$ level for all values of $\delta_{CP}$

Search for eV (pseudo)scalar penetrating particles in the SPS neutrino beam

We carried out a model-independent search for light scalar or pseudoscalar particles a's (an example of which is the axion) that couple to two photons by using a photon-regeneration method at high energies allowing a substantial increase in the sensitivity to eV masses.\ The experimental set-up is based on elements of the CERN West Area Neutrino Facility (WANF) beam line and theNOMAD neutrino detector.\ The new particles, if they exist, could be produced through the Primakoff effect in interactions of high energy photons, generated by the 450 GeV protons in the CERN SPS neutrino target, with virtual photons from the WANF horn magnetic field.\ The particles would penetrate the downstream shieldingand would be observed in the NOMAD neutrino detector through their re-conversion into real high energy photons byinteracting with the virtual photons from the magnetic field of the NOMAD dipole magnet.\ From the analysis of the data collected during the 1996 run with 1.08×1019 protons on target, 312 candidate events with energy between 5 and 140 GeV were found.\ This number is in general agreement with the expectation of 272±18 background events from standard neutrino processes.\ A 90 % CL upper limit on the aγγ-coupling gaγγ< 1.5×10−4 GeV−1 for a masses up to 40 eV is obtained