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DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the Nature of Neutrinos with the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE)

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation experimental program designed to study the behaviour of neutrino oscillation. DUNE will utilize a neutrino beam originating at Fermilab, near Chicago, and will leverage a detector at Fermilab (Near Detector) and a detector 1300 km away in South Dakota (Far Detector), south of Saskatchewan. In the first phase of DUNE, its Far Detector will comprise of two 10,000 ton (fiducial) liquid argon (LAr) time-projection chamber (TPC) modules – powerful tracking calorimeter detectors – placed nearly a mile underground. With this large, sensitive, underground detector, DUNE aims to collect a high statistics and pure sample of neutrinos at the Far Detector. This setup also offers the potential to study non-beam physical processes via e.g. neutrinos produced in the atmosphere, supernova neutrino bursts, and/or solar neutrinos, etc. A second phase will aim to add more detector mass and expand the program. The Near Detector will consist of a LAr TPC module as well: critical to constraining systematic uncertainties in the oscillation analysis. However, this LAr TPC will have a novel design using a pixel-based readout instead of the traditional wire-based readout. This and the segmentation of the LAr TPC into multiple units are crucial in mitigating the high multiplicity of neutrino interactions expected in any readout window given its proximity to the beam. The Near Detector will feature additional components and capability beyond the LAr TPC, allowing one to deeply characterize the neutrino flux. Due to the complexity of this experimental program, several smaller-scale prototype detectors have been operating to test, validate, and improve both the technical designs and software for processing and analyzing events. By operating in charged particle test beams or neutrino beams, several of the prototypes are also capable of producing valuable results. Canadian institutions are involved in the realization of the DUNE through efforts with both the Near and Far Detectors and prototypes. DUNE is anticipated to begin operating near the end of this decade/the beginning of the next. This talk will focus on the overall DUNE program, for example its ultimate plans, status, and the efforts with prototypes.

Howard, Bruce [York U., Canada; Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Status of the Short-Baseline Near Detector at Fermilab

The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is one of the Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detectors positioned along the axis of the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab, and is the near detector in the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program. The detector completed commissioning and began taking neutrino data in the summer of 2024. SBND is characterized by superb imaging capabilities and will record around 2 million neutrino interactions per year. Thanks to its unique combination of measurement resolution and statistics, SBND will soon carry out a rich program of neutrino interaction measurements and novel searches for physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). As the near detector, it will enable the full potential of the SBN sterile neutrino program by performing a precise characterization of the unoscillated event rate and constraining BNB flux and neutrino-argon cross-section systematic uncertainties. In this talk, the physics reach, current status, and future prospects of SBND are discussed.

Paton, Josephine [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measuring Nuclear Clusters in the Short-Baseline Near Detector

The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is the first Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) with high enough resolution and large enough neutrino flux to measure the cross-section for production of heavier-than-proton fragments in neutrino interactions. SBND is an 112-ton LArTPC, and lies 110 m downstream from the Booster Neutrino Beam target, where it is collecting more than two million neutrino interactions per year. As a result of both the intranuclear cascade and nuclear de-excitation, neutrino interactions with argon can produce nuclear clusters such as deuterons, tritons, helions and alpha particles, which have so far only been seen as vertex activity or mis-reconstructed as protons. With LArTPC technology's excellent reconstruction capabilities and SBND's unprecedented neutrino statistics, a measurement of these nuclear clusters could distinguish between nuclear models and improve neutrino energy reconstruction. This poster presents the status of simulation and reconstruction of nuclear clusters in SBND.

Beever, Anna L. [Unlisted, US] (ORCID:000900069339↗
DOE OSTI2025

Using Neural Networks for Low Energy Reconstruction and Neutron Identification in the MicroBooNE LArTPC

Identifying and reconstructing final-state neutrons from neutrino interactions in Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) will enhance future oscillation measurements by recovering missing energy and improving neutrino interaction channel identification. However, neutrons are challenging to reconstruct as the majority leave only small, isolated charge signatures known as blips. Here we present initial efforts to identify neutrons in the MicroBooNE LArTPC with low energy protons from neutron-argon inelastic interactions that present as blips below the traditional tracking threshold in the TPC. Unlike for tracks, there is no algorithmic method to determine direction for blips since they span only a few wires. Therefore, we developed and trained a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) to reconstruct the directionality of proton-induced blips, allowing us to separate signal from background by selecting blips that point back to the neutrino vertex. The model achieves a preliminary average angular resolution of 17 degrees when tested on a simulated sample of protons over 6 MeV in kinetic energy. This novel tool will enhance neutron detection in LArTPCs and expand a broad range of other low-energy physics searches such as for solar and supernova neutrinos.

Silva, Liani Isabel [Unlisted, US]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Neutron Tagging From Neutrino Interactions in DUNE-ND 2x2 Prototype

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment that aims to measure whether CP is violated in the leptonic sector (if violated, how much) and unambiguously determine the neutrino mass ordering. DUNE consists of near and far detectors that rely on liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) technology to observe neutrino interactions. The near detector (ND) will be placed in Fermilab, near the neutrino source, while the far detector (FD) will be deployed in Sanford Lab, 1.5 km deep underground, which is 1300 km away from the source. LArTPCs provide excellent particle identification and calorimetry; however, detecting neutrons is challenging, as they do not leave direct ionization signals in LArTPCs. Neutrons can carry away up to 25% of the neutrino energy, introducing a significant uncertainty in DUNE measurements. The DUNE near detector (ND) features a novel modular LArTPC with pixelated charge readout, which enhances event recons truction. The modular design enables precise correlation between ionization signals and light signals in a high-rate environment, improving the identification of delayed energy depositions from neutrons in neutrino interactions. We introduce a neutron tagging technique using the 2x2 Demonstrator, a small-scale prototype of the DUNE ND LArTPC. The analysis utilizes Monte Carlo simulations and deep-learning techniques to identify neutron-induced energy depositions and reconstruct low-energy activity.

Kufatty, Georgette [Florida State U.]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Conducting Beyond the Standard Model Searches in the MicroBooNE Detector with Machine Learning

MicroBooNE is one of the three neutrino detectors that comprise the Short Baseline Neutrino program at Fermilab. It utilizes Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) technology to probe the anomalous excess of electron-like events seen by its predecessor, MiniBooNE. Additionally, it provides a rich avenue of study for Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) theories. In the GeV energy regime relevant to MicroBooNE's beam neutrino program, many such theories lead to signatures which produce electron-positron (e+e-) final-states in the detector. While photons can pair produce into e+e- pairs with negligible opening angles, BSM theories often predict e+e- pairs with a broader range of opening angles. Thus, developing a tool that can reliably measure the opening angles of e+e- events is crucial for conducting rigorous BSM studies. However, these e+e- pairs result in topologically complex showers instead of clean tracks, making non-machine learning (ML) based methods such as line-fitting unsuitable for this task. This poster discusses the effectiveness of ML, namely a graph neural network called PointNet++, in accomplishing this goal. Our studies show promising results, with a resolution for the opening angle of 5 or less.

Bhelande, Vedang Adutya [Los Alamos]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Constraining Systematics at SBND to Reduce Uncertainties in SBN Oscillation Analyses

The Short Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is a crucial component of the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program, situated 110 meters from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) target. This 112-ton Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) Near Detector is optimally positioned to investigate the potential existence of an additional flavor of neutrino through neutrino oscillation. Due to its proximity to the BNB target, SBND is uniquely positioned to receive a high rate of un-oscillated neutrino events. This setup offers a valuable opportunity to examine exclusive channels, thereby enhancing our understanding of various neutrino interaction modes, aiding in the understanding and mitigation of various sources of uncertainties. By fully utilizing the detector's capabilities, we aim to mitigate significant uncertainties in neutrino oscillation studies, primarily those related to neutrino interactions and flux. Achieving a deeper understanding of these uncertainties and controlling them with near detector data is essential. In this poster I will present an SBND event selection to control these uncertainties for the SBN oscillation analyses.

Yadav, Shweta [Texas U., Arlington]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimal Transport for $e/\pi^0$ Particle Classification in LArTPC Neutrino Experiments

The efficient classification of electromagnetic activity from $\pi^0$ and electrons is a notoriously challenging problem in the reconstruction of neutrino interactions in Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) detectors. We address this problem using the mathematical framework of Optimal Transport (OT), which has been successfully employed for event classification in other HEP contexts and is ideally suited to the high-resolution calorimetry of LArTPCs. Using a publicly available simulated dataset from the MicroBooNE collaboration, we show that OT methods achieve state-of-the-art reconstruction performance in $e/\pi^0$ classification. The success of this first application indicates the broader promise of OT methods for LArTPC-based neutrino experiments. This work motivates integrating OT in the reconstruction frameworks of LArTPC experiments such as SBN and DUNE more broadly. Since $\pi^0$s are a significant background for both oscillation experiments and BSM searches, OT can lead to sizeable improvements in the selection efficiency for these analyses by introducing a novel method with which to achieve $\pi^0$ rejection.

Caratelli, David [UC, Santa Barbara]↗
DOE OSTI2025

New Measurement of Electron Neutrino Interactions on Argon in MicroBooNE

MicroBooNE, located at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, is an 85-tonne liquid argon time-projection chamber designed to study neutrinos from the Booster Neutrino Beam and Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beam. Understanding neutrino-nucleon interactions is essential for improving the accuracy of neutrino event generators, which are critical for modelling neutrino behaviour and interpreting data from oscillation experiments. The NuMI beam's high electron neutrino flux relative to its muon neutrino flux makes it particularly suited to probe these interactions. This poster presents new single-differential cross-section measurements of charged-current electron-neutrino interactions on argon with protons and no pions in the final state. These results use data from NuMI beam operations in both neutrino and antineutrino modes. Cross sections are reported as functions of key kinematic observables, including electron energy, total visible energy, and the opening angle between the electron and leading proton. Interaction rates as a function of proton multiplicity are also shown. These results are compared to theoretical predictions generated by widely used neutrino event generators.

Barnard, Abbey G. [Oxford U.] (ORCID:0000000161171↗
DOE OSTI2025

CCQE-like $\nu_{e}$ Selection in SBND using Convolutional Visual Network

Neutrinos from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab interact with argon in a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) differently based on their flavour. By examining the particles produced in a charged-current interaction, both the interaction type and the neutrino flavour can be inferred. The Short Baseline Near Detector has the largest neutrino-argon cross section data to date, motivating in-depth studies of various cross-section channels and topologies. This project aims to select electron neutrino quasi-elastic-like (QE-like) interactions in SBND using Convolutional Visual Network (CVN) scores. The CVN is a neural network that processes visual information from an event and assigns scores corresponding to its likelihood of being each interaction type. An inclusive study of electron neutrino charged current interactions using CVN has already been conducted. This analysis aims to build on this study, further utilizing CVN scores to isolate electron neutrino QE-like interactions characterized by the presence of an electron and one or more protons ($N > 0$) in the final state. The project s goal is to contribute to the overall cross-section measurement efforts within the SBN program at Fermilab.

Breen, Genevieve [Mt. Holyoke Coll.]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Study and improvement of the trigger system in ICARUS

In recent years, intriguing experimental neutrino anomalies have emerged. If confirmed, they could hint at the presence of additional sterile neutrino states playing in neutrino mixing. The Short-Baseline Neutrino project at Fermilab aims to delve into these anomalies, utilizing three Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber detectors along the Booster Neutrino Beam. The SBND detector serves as nearby instruments, while MicroBooNE and ICARUS function as far detectors and also explore the NuMI beam off-axis. A relevant aspect in the functioning of all SBN detectors is the trigger system, that determines which interactions are recorded. In particular, in ICARUS, it relies on the synchronization of prompt signals from scintillation light within the LAr-TPC, detected by a system of Photo-Multiplier Tubes, with the proton beam’s spill extraction. The existing majority-based logic of the trigger system could potentially be enhanced through adder boards that sum analog signals from PMTs in groups of 15. This sum-based triggering might aid in identifying events near TPC walls, where light is abundant but captured by only a few PMTs, potentially bypassing the majority condition. Comprehensive tests have been performed to characterize these adder boards.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Studies of the trigger performance of the ICARUS T600 detector at Fermilab

In recent years, experimental neutrino anomalies were reported: if confirmed, they could hint at the existence of additional sterile neutrino states participating in the mixing phenomenon. The future Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) project at Fermilab will pursue sterile neutrino searches, by exploiting three Liquid Argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) detectors located on-axis along the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB). Aside from SBND and MicroBooNE, ICARUS will be the far detector and will also be interested by the NuMI beam (off-axis). The trigger system is a key component of the detector: it is based on the coincidence of prompt signals from scintillation light in the LAr-TPC (recorded by a system of PhotoMultiplier Tubes, PMTs) with the proton spill extraction of the beam. The present system exploits a majority-based logic and may be complemented by a trigger system based on adder boards, that add the analog signals of the PMTs in groups of 15. Triggering on the sum may help in identifying events closer to the TPC walls, in which there is plenty of light collected by few PMTs and for which the majority condition may not be satisfied. Many tests were carried out to characterize the adder boards, both on the hardware and software sides.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

DUNE ND-LAr 2x2 Demonstrator Tests

A modular liquid argon (LAr) Time Projection Chamber (TPC) will be part of the near-detector facility for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Such a TPC is being developed by the ArgonCube collaboration. To demonstrate the feasibility of the LAr DUNE Near Detector, a medium size prototype has been built: the ArgonCube 2x2 Demonstrator. The detector will be placed in the MINOS-ND hall, upstream of the current MINERνA/MINOS-ND locations, at Fermilab. Currently two modules are being tested at the Liquid Argon Test Facility (LArTF), before being place on-axis in the NuMI neutrino beam. The present report will be focused on the work done within the 2x2 Demonstrator group: the first part of the project is focused on the Low Noise AC Power distribution at LArTF, whereas the second is related to the 2x2 demonstrator light readout system tests.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploiting the PRISM Feature and Purity Monitors of the SBND Neutrino Detector

The Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab will pursue neutrino properties searches, exploiting three Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) experiments to investigate neutrino oscillations with neutrinos from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB). SBND will be the near detector in the program, measuring the un-oscillated flux. It is anticipated to begin operating in 2023. Thanks to its peculiar proximity to the neutrino source of about 110 meters, SBND will collect extremely high statistics data of the flux in the GeV energy range, providing unprecedented precision measurements. SBND particular setting also allows to take measurements at different distances from BNB’s center maintaining statistics high enough at each range. LArTPC and the cold electronics technologies, as well as the argon-neutrino interaction studies, will play a key role in future neutrino physics. In this prospect, this work was focused on two SBND features: SBND PRISM tool, with the aim of investigating neutrino flux at different distances from the beam axis, and Purity Monitors, which provide a clever measurement of argon purity in the detector, whose value is fundamental in neutrino-argon interaction.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Toward SBND's First Cross Section Measurements

The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is one of the Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detectors positioned along the axis of the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab, and is the near detector in the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program. The detector completed commissioning and began taking neutrino data in the summer of 2024. SBND is characterized by superb imaging capabilities and recorded over two million neutrino interactions during its first physics run, which concluded in July 2025. Thanks to its unique combination of measurement resolution and statistics, SBND is carrying out a rich program of neutrino interaction measurements and novel searches for physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). As the near detector, it will enable the full potential of the SBN sterile neutrino program by performing a precise characterization of the unoscillated event rate and constraining BNB flux and neutrino-argon cross-section systematic uncertainties. In addition, SBND will provide valuable model constraints for DUNE by leveraging the significant overlap in phase space between neutrino interactions in the two experiments. In this talk, I will present the current efforts within the SBND cross section program, discuss their status, and outline the plans for the first physics publications.

Oh, Sungbin [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Neutrino-Argon Cross-Section Measurements from the MicroBooNE Experiment

MicroBooNE is a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector located along the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam and 8 degrees off-axis to the Neutrinos at the Main Injector beam. MicroBooNE collected data from both beams accumulating a large neutrino-argon scattering dataset with a mean neutrino energy of approximately 0.8 GeV. Understanding neutrino-argon interactions is crucial for the next generation of neutrino oscillation experiments including DUNE. MicroBooNE has developed pioneering methodologies and novel reconstruction tools in order to benchmark models at very high sensitivity across the interaction phase space, including for ultra-rare channels. This talk will give an overview of the most recent MicroBooNE neutrino interaction results. These measurements provide invaluable datasets for constraining backgrounds and improving the modelling of neutrino scattering critical for the broader LArTPC neutrino physics program.

Liu, Liang [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laser calibration system at ProtoDUNE-HD

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a full experiment consisting of multiple detectors separated by a near and far site. DUNE will study long-baseline neutrino oscillations, which will provide insight into CP-violation, neutrino mass ordering, and the matter/antimatter asymmetry. Additionally, DUNE will search for nucleon decay and observe neutrinos from supernovae. DUNE relies on liquid argon time projection chambers (LAr TPCs), an excellent technology for tracking particles and reconstructing their interactions with high precision. To achieve its goals, DUNE is supported by the ProtoDUNE experiments at CERN, which serve as large-scale prototypes to validate detector technologies and calibration systems. The precise calibration of the electric field within the detector is vital for accurate 3D reconstruction of particle tracks, particularly in maintaining the consistency of charge measurements along the drift path. This work presents the development and implementation of a laser calibration system designed for ProtoDUNE-II. This poster involved the physical installation and commissioning of the laser system. The commissioning process included extensive testing to ensure alignment and operational efficiency, such as rotating the laser to observe behavior of tracks. The groundwork established during these steps is crucial for future data analysis, aiming to measure the electron lifetime (in the active volume) and map the electric field inside the detector with high precision.

Campanelli, Wallison [LIP]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Single Photon Searches at ICARUS with SPINE

The MiniBooNE Low-Energy Excess (LEE) of electron-like events from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) has puzzled neutrino physicists for decades. One possible explanation has been an unpredicted excess of neutral current (NC) $\Delta$ resonance interactions with a subsequent radiative decay. An increase in the rate of NC $\Delta\rightarrow N\gamma$ events by a factor of 3.18 could explain the LEE seen by MiniBooNE. ICARUS also sees neutrinos from the BNB and can check the rate of these single photon events. The SPINE particle physics reconstruction suite leverages deep neural networks (DNNs) to optimize particle reconstruction and identification in Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs). I present preliminary findings on the effectiveness of these machine learnign (ML) techniques for single photon event reconstruction at ICARUS.

Hausner, Harry [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000188932280)↗