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DOE OSTI2021

Status of the MicroBooNE Low Energy Excess Search

MicroBooNE is a neutrino experiment that utilizes a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) located on-axis in the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab. One of the experiment’s main goals is to search for excess low-energy electromagnetic-like events as seen by the MiniBooNE experiment, located just downstream of MicroBooNE in the BNB. As MicroBooNE nears the completion of its first single-electron-like and single-photon-like searches, these proceedings present the status of MicroBooNE's low-energy excess search as of early summer 2020. In addition to presenting an overview of the approach to these analyses, we showcase results from $\pi^0$ calibrations and $e$/$\gamma$ separation, and sample results from sidebands aimed at validating the analysis' progress outside the low-energy signal region.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2022

The System for on-Axis Neutrino Detection at the DUNE Near Detector complex

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment Near Detector complex aims at constraining the systematic uncertainties and deconvolving the neutrino beam flux and cross-section models. The System for on-Axis Neutrino Detection (SAND) is the Near Detector component permanently on-axis. SAND is based on the 0.6 T superconducting magnet and electromagnetic calorimeter previously used in the KLOE experiment. The 40 m3 magnetic volume will be filled with an active target/tracker system. One considered option foresees an upstream liquid Argon active target (about 1.5 t) and a Straw Tube Tracker (about 5 t). In this talk the design of SAND will be described and its performances discussed in view of the SAND primary goals, namely the beam monitoring and neutrino flux measurements.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2025

Bounds on Lorentz Violation Parameters in the DUNE Experiment

The Standard Model (SM) has been highly successful in describing fundamental interactions, yet phenomena like neutrino oscillations point to physics beyond its framework. Among the proposed extensions, Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) stands out as a compelling possibility. Long-baseline neutrino experiments such as DUNE, with its 1300 km baseline, offer a promising setting to test LIV effects with high precision. In this work, we evaluate DUNE s sensitivity to LIV by analyzing event rates and oscillation probabilities using the GLoBES framework. A custom implementation of LIV parameters was employed to derive bounds on the aa and cc matrices, identifying the parameter values that lead to a 10% deviation from the standard oscillation probability. Our results show partial agreement with previous studies for the aa parameters, while deviations in the cc parameters highlight the impact of differing methodologies and sensitivities. These findings reinforce the relevance of LIV searches and motivate further theoretical and experimental efforts in this direction.

Cruz, Thiago. [Tech. Fed. Parana U.]↗

DOE OSTI2025

European Contributions to Fermilab Accelerator Upgrades and Facilities for the DUNE Experiment

The Proton Improvement Plan (PIP-II) to the FNAL accelerator chain and the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) will provide the world's most intense neutrino beam to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) enabling a wide-ranging physics program. This document outlines the significant contributions made by European national laboratories and institutes towards realizing the first phase of the project with a 1.2 MW neutrino beam. Construction of this first phase is well underway. For DUNE Phase II, this will be closely followed by an upgrade of the beam power to > 2 MW, for which the European groups again have a key role and which will require the continued support of the European community for machine aspects of neutrino physics. Beyond the neutrino beam aspects, LBNF is also responsible for providing unique infrastructure to install and operate the DUNE neutrino detectors at FNAL and at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). The cryostats for the first two Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detector modules at SURF, a contribution of CERN to LBNF, are central to the success of the ongoing execution of DUNE Phase I. Likewise, successful and timely procurement of cryostats for two additional detector modules at SURF will be critical to the success of DUNE Phase II and the overall physics program. The DUNE Collaboration is submitting four main contributions to the 2026 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics process. This paper is being submitted to the 'Accelerator technologies' and 'Projects and Large Experiments' streams. Additional inputs related to the DUNE science program, DUNE detector technologies and R&D, and DUNE software and computing, are also being submitted to other streams.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2026

LBNF/DUNE Liquid Argon Roadmap

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is an international flagship venture to unlock the mysteries of neutrinos. Hosted at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) and supported by the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF), DUNE relies on nearly 75,000 tonnes of ultrapure liquid argon (LAr) housed in state-of-the-art cryostats. Transporting such vast quantities of LAr to its destination a mile underground in Lead, SD, is a logistical and engineering challenge. The process begins with securing large quantities of liquid argon from suppliers located far from the site, with major sources situated near Houston, TX and Chicago, IL. The receiving facility, located atop a mountain with steep, often snow-covered access roads, provides limited maneuverability for trucks and can only handle two deliveries simultaneously. The facility serves as an entry point for argon to the greater LBNF cryogenic system. It is furnished with truck unloading stations, limited buffer storage of some 280 tonnes capacity, and vaporizers. The last are crucial for converting liquid argon into gas for transfer down the Ross Shaft, eliminating the need for cryogens in the vertical pipeline. These constraints, along with other operational factors, cap the delivery rate at 70 tonnes per day. Once underground, the argon is purified and recondensed before filling the cryostats. This roadmap outlines the integrated supply chain and cryogenic systems that enable the delivery of LAr to support DUNE’s groundbreaking physics research.

Maciazka, Matt [Fermilab]↗

DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of magnetic dipole strength in 40 Ar between 9.3 and 10.3 MeV excitation energy and impact on neutral current neutrino interaction

The magnetic dipole strength 𝐵⁡(𝑀⁢1 ↑) of 40 Ar was measured in the excitation energy range between 9.3 and 10.3 MeV. The nuclear resonance fluorescence technique was used with monoenergetic, linearly polarized incident photon beams. The new data increase the known 𝐵⁡(𝑀⁢1 ↑) strength in this important excitation energy range by a factor of 2, resulting in an equivalent increase of the calculated neutral current neutrino cross section of 40 Ar . This observation is of special interest for liquid-argon (LAr)-based neutrino detectors. 𝐵⁡(𝑀⁢1 ↑) strength has not been found between 10.3 and 11.7 MeV excitation energy. In conclusion, with the new data, a more reliable detection capability of the large Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment LAr detectors can be derived for potential core-collapse supernova neutrinos via the neutral current interaction.

Energy levels↗

DOE OSTI2020

Borexino and general neutrino interactions

We derive constraints on all possible general neutrino-electron interactions (scalar, vector, pseudo-scalar, axial-vector and tensor) using the recent real time Borexino event rate measurements of pp, pep and Be7 solar neutrinos. Some of the limits improve from TEXONO and CHARM-II for incoming electron and muon neutrinos while the rest remains weaker for Borexino and those for the tau flavor are the first ones. Future improvements by next-generation solar neutrino experiments are also studied. The limits extend the physics reach of solar neutrino measurements to TeV-scale physics. Finally, the different properties of the new interactions for Dirac and Majorana neutrinos are discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Updates and Lessons Learned from NuMI Beamline at Fermilab

The Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beamline at Fermilab generates an intense muon neutrino beam for the NOvA (NuMI Off-axis 𝜈𝑒 Appearance) long baseline neutrino experiment. Over the years, the NuMI beamline has been pivotal in advancing neutrino physics, providing invaluable data and insights. This presentation offers updates and a comprehensive review of the lessons learned from the operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the NuMI beamline. Key topics include the optimization of beam performance, challenges in maintaining beamline stability, and proposed Machine Learning implementations to enhance monitoring. The talk aims to share best practices and provide a roadmap for future beamline projects, including the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF).

Wickremasinghe, Athula↗

DOE OSTI2026

Event Selection at the DUNE Near Detector

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next generation long-baseline experiment designed with a primary goal of providing definitive measurements of the neutrino mass ordering and the Charge Parity (CP)-violating phase. A key component in reaching these goals is the DUNE Near Detector (ND) complex, placed 574 m from the beam target, and tasked with characterising the neutrino beam and constraining systematic uncertainties before oscillation effects occur. We will present primary findings from the development of an event selection for $\nu_\mu$ CC interactions within the ND liquid argon time projection chamber (ND-LAr). These findings will include a discussion of the importance of defining metrics, such as efficiency and purity, such that we can meet the required sensitivity for DUNE's physics measurements.

Sabater Andres, Eva [Sussex U.] (ORCID:00090001748↗

DOE OSTI2026

A New Era for Bubble Chamber Technology

Neutrino experiments like DUNE are limited by how well we understand the way neutrinos actually interact with atoms. The best way to fix that is to measure interactions on hydrogen, since a hydrogen nucleus is just a single free proton with largely none of the nuclear effects that heavier targets like argon have. The catch is that no one has built a hydrogen bubble chamber for a neutrino beam since the 1980s, mostly because the old chambers had too low of an active time. MAMBA is a project focused on bringing that technology back but built to cycle continuously at 1 Hz. I spent my summer internship on two of the subsystems that make that kind of speed possible. First, I helped install and test a new solid copper thermal link that replaced the old flexible braided cooling path, and it brought the coldhead down to 21.3 K, right at the target temperature. Second, I built and tested a Raspberry Pi based PLC control system, and across 20,000 trials it answered in a median of 0.64 ms, with only 0.66\% of trials running past 1 ms. Both results point the same direction: that inexpensive, off the shelf hardware can perform fast and reliable enough to eventually run a bubble chamber the way MAMBA needs it to run.

Williams, Nicholas [DuPage Coll.]↗

DOE OSTI2025

The Short-Baseline Near Detector at Fermilab: Input to the European Strategy for Particle Physics 2026 Update

SBND is a 112 ton liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector located 110 meters from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) target at Fermilab. Its main goals include searches for eV-scale sterile neutrinos as part of the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program, other searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, and precision studies of neutrino-argon interactions. In addition, SBND is providing a platform for LArTPC neutrino detector technology development and is an excellent training ground for the international group of scientists and engineers working towards the upcoming flagship Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). SBND began operation in July 2024, and started collecting stable neutrino beam data in December 2024 with an unprecedented rate of ~7,000 neutrino events per day. During its currently approved operation plans (2024-2027), SBND is expected to accumulate nearly 10 million neutrino interactions. The near detector dataset will be instrumental in testing the sterile neutrino hypothesis with unprecedented sensitivity in SBN and in probing signals of beyond the Standard Model physics. It will also be used to significantly advance our understanding of the physics of neutrino-argon interactions ahead of DUNE. After the planned accelerator restart at Fermilab (2029+), opportunities are being explored to operate SBND in antineutrino mode in order to address the scarcity of antineutrino-argon scattering data, or in a dedicated beam-dump mode to significantly enhance sensitivity to searches for new physics. SBND is an international effort, with approximately 40% of institutions from Europe, contributing to detector construction, commissioning, software development, and data analysis. Continued European involvement and leadership are essential during SBND's operations and analysis phase for both the success of SBND, SBN and its role leading up to DUNE.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Search for NuMI $\mu$DAR Electron Neutrinos in MicroBooNE

Muon Decay-at-Rest ($\mu$DAR) produces electron-neutrinos ($\nu_e$) in the $0$ to $53$ MeV energy range. The given range is especially interesting for its similarity to Supernovae-produced $\nu_e$. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) has as one of its main goals to measure Supernovae neutrinos on the occasion of a Galactic Supernova burst. To optimize the chances of detection, a low-energy neutrino-LAr cross-section (XS) measurement is a piece of important information to have at hand. MicroBooNE presents a good opportunity to explore the low-energy $\nu$-LAr detection and XS using the $\mu$DAR neutrinos and therefore develop the tools necessary for DUNE to in is a LArTPC that has been collecting neutrino data since October 2015 from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) and off-axis to the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beam, both copious sources of $\mu$DAR neutrinos. esis, we present a first attempt to measure MeV-scale neutrinos in a LArTPC. To do that, we use specifi c MeV-scale reconstruction tools combined with other traditional reconstruction tools used in MicroBooNE. We discuss the tool's performance, limitations, and provide suggestions on how to improve them. zes looks for $\mu$DAR neutrino- argon charged current interactions in the NuMI Run1 data, that contains $2\times 10^{20}$ POT. We observed $9,176$ signal candidates. The number of expected background events is $8,776$, the majority from cosmic rays. We establish a XS upper limit of $<\sigma> = 1.99\times10^{-37} \textrm{cm}^2 / \textrm{Ar}$, which corresponds to $551.9$ times the nominal prediction from MARLEY, the neutrino generator used in this work. Despite the lack of sensitivity, this work is the first of its kind and sets the foundation for future similar analysis in the future. In the conclusions, we discuss how this results can be further improved in MicroBooNE.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Meld: Exploring the Feasibility of a Framework-less Framework

HEP data-processing frameworks are essential ingredients in getting from raw data to physics results. But they are often tricky to use well, and they present a significant learning barrier for the beginning HEP physicist. In addition, existing frameworks typically support rigid, collider-based data models, which do not map well to neutrino-physics experiments like DUNE. Neutrino physicists thus expend significant effort working around framework limitations instead of using a framework that directly supports their needs. Presented here is Meld, a Fermilab R&D project, which intends to address these limitations. By leveraging modern C++ capabilities, state-of-the-art concurrency libraries, and a flexible data model, it is possible for beginning (and seasoned) HEP physicists to execute framework programs easily and efficiently, with minimal coupling to framework-specific constructs. Meld aims to directly support the frameworks needs of neutrino experiments like DUNE as well as the more common collider-based experiments.

Knoepfel, Kyle J.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Improving Neutrino Energy Reconstruction with Machine Learning

Faithful energy reconstruction is foundational for precision neutrino experiments like DUNE, but is hindered by uncertainties in our understanding of neutrino--nucleus interactions. Here, we demonstrate that dense neural networks are very effective in overcoming these uncertainties by estimating inaccessible kinematic variables based on the observable part of the final state. We find improvements in the energy resolution by up to a factor of two compared to conventional reconstruction algorithms, which translates into an improved physics performance equivalent to a 10-30% increase in the exposure.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Leveraging FPGA Advantages for Quicker Data Processing for LBNF

The Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) will deliver a 2.4 MW muon neutrino beam from Fermilab to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), requiring unprecedented precision in beamline alignment to achieve DUNE's neutrino oscillation measurement goals. Vertical misalignments of beamline components as small as 0.5 mm can contribute 6-7\% uncertainty in predicted neutrino flux, necessitating sub-0.1 mm alignment monitoring capabilities. The Horn Location Sensor (HLS) system employs frequency sweep interferometry (FSI) in a distributed hydrostatic leveling network to achieve the required precision under harsh radiation conditions up to 5000 kRad/year. Traditional FSI implementations suffer from laser sweep nonlinearities that degrade resolution and require computationally intensive post-processing corrections using gas reference cells. This work presents a real-time FPGA-based implementation of the HLS data acquisition and processing system using a sweep tracker interferometer for dynamic sweep linearization. The system utilizes a PYNQ-Z2 FPGA with programmable logic implementing parallel 16k-point FFT processing across four channels, synchronized by the sweep tracker signal to eliminate post-processing requirements. Spectral performance testing demonstrates significant improvements in peak sharpness compared to traditional fixed-frequency digitization. The FPGA implementation enables real-time displacement monitoring with processing speeds orders of magnitude faster than software-based approaches, essential for the operational requirements of LBNF's eventual distributed sensor network. This advancement in real-time FSI processing directly supports DUNE's precision neutrino physics program by providing the rapid feedback necessary for maintaining stringent beamline alignment tolerances during high-power beam operations.

Rossel, Jacob↗

DOE OSTI2025

Real-Time FPGA Implementation For Frequency Sweep Interferometry In The LBNF Complex

Rossel, A. Jacob [Fermilab; Unlisted]↗

DOE OSTI2026

Standard Candles for Supernova Neutrino Detection at DUNE

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) far detector is sensitive to $\mathcal{O}(10)$ MeV electron neutrinos through $ν_e$ charged-current reaction with argon. This capability is a unique window into the $ν_e$ component of a Galactic core-collapse supernova flux. Extracting the properties of the supernova spectrum is, however, limited by the poorly-known $ν_e$-Ar cross section. We propose a data-driven strategy that leverages $^8$B solar neutrinos and muon-decay-at-rest neutrinos as standard candles for this process. These calibration samples constrain both the low-energy and high-energy components of the cross section relevant for supernova detection. Our method reduces the reliance on nuclear models, which can bias the extraction of the spectral parameters by as much as 300$\%$.

Cheng, Ting [Fermilab]↗

DOE OSTI2021

Calorimetric classification of track-like signatures in liquid argon TPCs using MicroBooNE data

The MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber located at Fermilab is a neutrino experiment dedicated to the study of short-baseline oscillations, the measurements of neutrino cross sections in liquid argon, and to the research and development of this novel detector technology. Accurate and precise measurements of calorimetry are essential to the event reconstruction and are achieved by leveraging the TPC to measure deposited energy per unit length along the particle trajectory, with mm resolution. We describe the non-uniform calorimetric reconstruction performance in the detector, showing dependence on the angle of the particle trajectory. Such non-uniform reconstruction directly affects the performance of the particle identification algorithms which infer particle type from calorimetric measurements. This work presents a new particle identification method which accounts for and effectively addresses such non-uniformity. The newly developed method shows improved performance compared to previous algorithms, illustrated by a 93.7% proton selection efficiency and a 10% muon mis-identification rate, with a fairly loose selection of tracks performed on beam data. The performance is further demonstrated by identifying exclusive final states in ν μ CC interactions. While developed using MicroBooNE data and simulation, this method is easily applicable to future LArTPC experiments, such as SBND, ICARUS, and DUNE.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗