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At least 667 records · Page 37

Signal discrimination for neutron-antineutron oscillation sensitivity study at DUNE

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) aims to measure neutrino oscillations as well as search for beyond the standard model physics such as baryon number violating (BNV) processes. DUNE will use a 70 kt Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) located more than 1 km underground. A promising BNV process is neutron-antineutron oscillation $\left(n\rightarrow\bar{n}\right)$ which, if discovered, would offer unique insight into the baryon asymmetry of the universe. We are developing a classification algorithm that separates $n\rightarrow\bar{n}$ events from major background atmospheric neutrino interactions using DUNE far detector simulations. We will perform the classification of signals and backgrounds by analyzing key features such as the multiplicity, isotropy, and kinematics of the reconstructed events. In the future, this algorithm can be used to obtain the sensitivity of the DUNE detectors to the neutron-antineutron oscillation lifetime.

Wheeler, Justin↗

Testing, Operation, and Analysis of a Photosensitive LArTPC

TinyTPC, a compact LArTPC with a pixelated readout system (LArPix), aims to improve energy measurements for low-energy events by enhancing ionization charge collection. It explores the effects of photosensitive dopants and xenon in liquid argon. An initial look at adding photosensitive dopant isobutylene found a 5% charge enhancement.

McCright, Hannah↗

Predicting Missing Regions in Charged Particle Tracks Using a Sparse 3D Convolutional Neural Network

The 2x2 Demonstrator is a prototype detector for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE)'s Near Detector. Both the 2x2 Demonstrator and the Near Detector itself will have inactive regions wherein there is no sensitivity to charge deposition and light signals that arise from charged particle interactions with liquid argon. In the 2x2, these inactive regions are positioned in-between the active detector modules, which introduces the challenge of inferring what charge signals ought to look like in these regions. This study explores the use of a Sparse 3D Convolutional Neural Network (ConvNet) to infer missing regions in charged particle tracks. Hits corresponding to energy depositions are voxelized into a three-dimensional (3D) grid for each track. Inactive regions within the tracks are replaced with a dense, rectangular 3D grid of voxels, ensuring consistent step sizes in X, Y, and Z directions. Voxels in these dense regions are initialized with an energy value of -1, indicating nonphysical energy or charge. The model is trained to predict which voxels should activate as part of the track and which should not, with the goal of eventually inferring the missing charge or energy values in these voxels. Results indicate that the model accurately predicts track voxels within 1 unit in X, Y, or Z directions and effectively identifies non-track voxels, despite some overprediction. The approach shows promise in prediction of missing track regions with some accuracy.

Utaegbulam, Hilary↗

NuGraph2: A Graph Neural Network for Neutrino Event Reconstruction

Neutrino experiments are set to probe some of the most important open questions in physics, from CP violation and the nature of dark matter. The technology of choice for many of these experiments is the liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). In current LArTPC experiments, reconstruction performance often represents a limiting factor for the sensitivity. New developments are therefore needed to unlock the full potential of LArTPC experiments. NuGraph2 is a state of the art Graph Neural Network for reconstruction of data in LArTPC experiments [https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.11872]. NuGraph2 utilizes a heterogeneous graph structure, with separate subgraphs of 2D nodes (hits in each plane) connected across planes via 3D nodes (space points). The model provides a consistent description of the neutrino interaction across all planes. NuGraph2 is a multi-purpose network, with a common message-passing attention engine connected to multiple decoders with different classification or regression tasks. These include the classification of detector hits according to the particle type that produced them (semantic segmentation) and the separation of hits from the neutrino interaction from hits due to noise or cosmic-ray background. Additional decoders are being developed, performing tasks such as the regression of the neutrino interaction vertex position. Performance results will be presented based on publicly available samples from MicroBooNE. These include both physics performance metrics, achieving 95% accuracy for semantic segmentation and 98% classification of neutrino hits, as well as computational metrics for training and for inference on CPU or GPU. The status of the NuGraph integration in the LArSoft software framework will be presented, as well as initial studies about model interpretability and injection of domain knowledge.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Optimization and Analysis of ICEBERG LArTPC Run Configuration for Data Collection

This paper presents the findings from the ICEBERG project at Fermilab, focusing on the development and optimization of Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) detectors for the DUNE project. Various parameters, including Vref, gain, and peak time, were systematically varied to ensure accurate data collection and diagnostics. The analysis revealed optimal settings that enhance the detector's performance, paving the way for improved neutrino detection and research.

Ganguly, Neil↗

MicroBooNE investigations on the photon interpretation of the MiniBooNE low energy excess

The MicroBooNE experiment is a liquid argon time projection chamber with 85-ton active volume at Fermilab, operated from 2015 to 2020 to collect neutrino data from Fermilab's Booster Neutrino Beam. One of MicroBooNE's physics goals is to investigate possible explanations of the low-energy excess observed by the MiniBooNE experiment in $\nu_{\mu}\rightarrow \nu_{e}$ neutrino oscillation measurements. MicroBooNE has performed searches to test hypothetical interpretations of the MiniBooNE low-energy excess, including the underestimation of the photon background or instrinic $\nu_{e}$ background. This thesis presents MicroBooNE's searches for two neutral current (NC) single-photon production processes that contribute to the photon background of the MiniBooNE measurement: NC $\Delta$ resonance production followed by $\Delta$ radiative decay: $\Delta \rightarrow N\gamma$, and NC coherent single-photon production. Both searches take advantage of boosted decision trees to yield efficient background rejection, and a high-statistic NC $\pi^0$ measurement to constrain dominant background, and make use of MicroBooNE's first three years of data. The NC $\Delta \rightarrow N\gamma$ measurement yielded a bound on the $\Delta$ radiative decay process at 2.3 times the predicted nominal rate at 90\% confidence level(C.L.), disfavoring a candidate photon interpretation of the MiniBooNE low-energy excess as a factor of 3.18 times the nominal NC Δ radiative decay rate at the 94.8\% C.L. The NC coherent single photon measurement leads to the world's first experimental limit on the cross-section of this process below 1 GeV, of $1.49 \times 10^{-41} \text{cm}^2$ at 90\% C.L., corresponding to 24.0 times the nominal prediction.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Lambda baryon production in neutrino-nucleus interactions and light signals reconstruction in the Short-Baseline Near Detector

The field of neutrino physics is nowadays entering the era of precision measurements, with new detectors capable of capturing neutrino interactions with unprecedented detail and high intensity neutrino beams. Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) have become one of the main neutrino detection technologies, providing excellent imaging capabilities and particle identification. The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) at Fermilab is a LArTPC experiment designed to capture neutrinos from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB). Its proximity to the beam target (110\,m) and large size (112\,ton) enable the recording of millions of neutrino interactions annually. SBND provides the highest statistics worldwide for neutrino-argon cross-section measurements, facilitating the study of rare channels like Cabibbo-suppressed quasielastic hyperon production. Specifically, this thesis focuses on neutral $\Lambda$ baryon production for which only tens of events have been observed up to date. Our work introduces a novel selection strategy leveraging LArTPC imaging capabilities to identify the distinctive decay signatures of $\Lambda$ baryons, enhancing sensitivity to this channel. Besides being a very mature technology, LArTPCs are an evolving technology. Part of the focus of the new developments lies in harnessing the potential of scintillation light signals. The Photon Detection System (PDS) in SBND has been designed to provide an efficient detection of the scintillation light, representing a major R\&D opportunity in the LArTPC community. Its design provides a high and more uniform light yield, an excellent timing resolution and an independent 3D reconstruction of the events, including the drift coordinate, using exclusively the light signals. This work presents the first comprehensive study of the SBND PDS capabilities. The new developments in the simulation and reconstruction of the light signals in SBND are presented. The whole chain is applied to accurately tag neutrino events through timing information, with a predicted resolution $\mathcal{O}$(2\,ns), and ultimately retrieve the pulse structure of the BNB.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Low-Energy Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering and New Physics

The interactions of low-energy neutrinos with nuclei provide a unique window to explore various Standard Model (SM) and Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) processes. In particular, the recent observation of coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS), predicted over five decades ago, has generated significant interest across disciplines. With its high cross section and suitability for compact detectors, particularly with stopped pion neutrinos, CEvNS offers a powerful probe for light, weakly coupled new physics. Ongoing global experimental efforts now aim to leverage CEvNS to test SM predictions and search for BSM signals, where deviations in event rates or spectra could reveal new physics. We present here an estimate of the number of recoil events obtained from CEvNS using the current and upcoming liquid argon based experiments. Furthermore, the event rate due to the inclusion of neutrino magnetic moment is also discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The NuMI Flux Prediction at ICARUS

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment seeking to probe fundamental symmetries within the structure of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) mixing matrix, and perform precision measurements its parameters including the neutrino mass ordering via the sign of $\Delta m^2_{31}$, and the charge-parity violating phase, $\delta_{CP}$. To make these measurements with high precision, DUNE will require external $\nu$-Ar scattering cross section data as a crucial input to the oscillation fit. Imaging Cosmic And Rare Underground Signals (ICARUS) is a 476 t liquid argon neutrino detector located at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) where it is serving as the far detector for the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program along the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) axis. ICARUS additionally lies 795 m downstream and 100.1 mrad off-axis of the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) neutrino beam. From this position, ICARUS is exposed to a large flux of NuMI (anti-)electron and (anti-)muon neutrinos, and poses a unique opportunity to provide high-statistics measurements of quasi-elastic and single pion-production cross sections for four neutrino flavors ($\nu_{\mu}$, $\nu_{e}$, $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$, $\bar{\nu}_{e}$). This dissertation is centered around accurately characterizing the models and estimating their precision for use in making these measurements. This includes identifying major sources of uncertainty in the models such that they can be properly propagated to the cross section measurements. Specifically, this work focused on the model of the NuMI beamline and its impact on the neutrino fluxes, but also delved into the detector response model and its impact on reconstructed observables in the detector. Significant efforts were made to improve the characterization to enhance precision and thus reduce the level of propagated uncertainty. In particular, the NuMI flux was determined to be composed of 57% $\nu_{\mu}$, 38% $\bar{\nu}_{\mu}$, 3% $\nu_{e}$, and 2% $\bar{\nu}_{e}$ while the horns are operating in the positive-particle focusing configuration. The total uncertainty on the $\nu_{\mu} + \bar{\nu}_{\mu}$ ($\nu_{e} + \bar{\nu}_{e}$) flux while operating in the forward horn operating mode was determined to be 10.84% (9.04%). Compared to the on-axis flux, mesons that eventually decay to neutrinos more frequently reinteract within the NuMI structure, resulting in elevated uncertainty as these processes are not well-constrained by existing hadron interaction cross section measurements. Covariance matrices were calculated to propagate the flux uncertainty characterization to NuMI analyses.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Boosted Dark Matter Search with the ICARUS Detector at the Gran Sasso Underground National Laboratory

The quest to discover dark matter is one of the most pressing topics in modern physics. Evidence of gravitational anomalies is present at different cosmological scales, spanning the stability and rotation of galaxies to the overall density profile of the entire observable Universe. Due to the discrepancy between the mass measured and the gravitational influence on the mass, if General Relativity is to correctly describe gravity at different scales, extra electromagnetically invisible matter termed dark matter must exist. In recent decades, many experiments have been performed to detect dark matter with masses that span many orders of magnitude, from Mass Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs) with masses several orders of magnitude that of our sun to very light particles on the order of $\sim\mu$eV. However, experiments have only been able to constrain the possible parameter space of dark matter models and, in general, probe dark matter models with single constituent dark matter like Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). In the Boosted Dark Matter (BDM) paradigm, there are four particles in the dark sector: $\chi_0$, $\chi_1$, $\chi_2$, and the dark photon $X$. WIMP-like properties are ascribed to $\chi_0$ to describe the physics of the gravitational anomalies, while relativistic components are assigned to $\chi_1$ and $\chi_2$. The inelastic boosted dark matter (iBDM) channel $\chi_1 e^-\rightarrow \chi_2 e^-\rightarrow \chi_1 Xe^-\rightarrow \chi_1 (e^+ e^- ) e^-$, where $\chi_2$ is an excited state of $\chi_1$, has a unique signature that is distinguishable from neutrino interactions, making neutrino experiments a viable search environment for BDM. Using data collected by the ICARUS collaboration with ICARUS T-600 Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) during its operation at the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory (LNGS), the first-ever LArTPC dark matter search using the ICARUS detector is presented. With a total detector exposure of 0.13 kton$\cdot$year, a total of 4 iBDM candidate events were identified by several stages of data scanning. All were rejected due to defined selection criteria and a wire-by-wire $dE/dx$ evaluation, giving a null result. Exclusion plots at 90\%C.L. for the dark photon ($m_X$, $\epsilon$) parameter space for fixed ($m_0,m_1,m_2$) DM mass sets are presented, setting new limits on the dark photon visible decay parameter space.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The ICEBERG Test Stand for DUNE Cold Electronics Development

ICEBERG is a liquid argon time projection chamber at Fermilab for the purpose of testing detector components and software for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). The detector features a 1.15m x 1m anode plane following the specifications of the DUNE horizontal drift far detector and a newly installed X-ARAPUCA photodetector. The status of ICEBERG is reported along with analysis of noise, pulser, and cosmic ray data from the ninth run beginning May 2024 with the goal of advising the DUNE collaboration on the optimal wire readout electronics configuration. In addition, development of an absolute energy scale calibration method is currently underway using known sources such as cosmic ray muon Michel electrons at the ~10 MeV scale and $^{39}$Ar decay electrons at the ~100keV scale. Research into AI-based identification of such events at the data acquisition level is introduced.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Calibration and Timing Performance of the Light Detection System in the ICARUS Detector

ICARUS is the largest Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) in operation and serves as the Far Detector of the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab. It aims to investigate the possible existence of sterile neutrinos with $\Delta m^2 \approx 1 \,\mathrm{eV^2}$ using the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) and explore physics beyond the Standard Model with the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) beam. The ICARUS light detection system, comprising 360 TPB-coated large-area Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMTs), is crucial for triggering and event reconstruction. Due to its shallow installation, the detector is exposed to a high flux of cosmic rays, necessitating precise timing to reject background events and align neutrino interactions with the beam time profile. This talk will detail the timing inter-calibration procedures for the ICARUS light detection system, which achieve sub-nanosecond resolution. Additionally, the performance of the system in reconstructing the timing of neutrino interactions from the BNB and NuMI beams will be discussed. The results highlight the effectiveness of the ICARUS light detection system in enhancing the detector's capability for precise and reliable neutrino selection.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

The GammaTPC Gamma-Ray Telescope Concept

We present GammaTPC, a transformative 0.1-10 MeV $\gamma$-ray instrument concept featuring a tracker using a liquid argon time projection chamber (LAr TPC) technology with the novel GAMPix high spatial resolution and ultra low power charge readout. These enable an economical instrument with unprecedented effective area and sensitivity. We discuss the design and technology in some detail, including how a LAr TPC can be staged in space. Finally, we present a first study of the sensitivity of the instrument in the Compton regime using a new framework for analyzing Compton telescope data.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Expanding the physics reach of DUNE in the near and far detectors

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is a next-generation long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. Its primary goal is the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy and the CP-violating phase. The DUNE physics programme also includes the detection of astrophysical neutrinos and the search for beyond the Standard Model (BSM) phenomena. DUNE will consist of a near detector (ND) complex placed at Fermilab, and a modular Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) far detector (FD) to be built in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), approximately 1300 km away from the neutrino production point. This thesis describes three different projects within DUNE. First, a novel strategy to improve the triggering capabilities of the DUNE FD is proposed. It uses matched filters to enhance the production of online hits across all charge collection planes. Next, the possibility of detecting neutrinos coming from dark matter (DM) annihilations in the Sun with the FD is explored. The complementarity of DUNE to this kind of DM searches is shown. Finally, the simulation and reconstruction framework of ND-GAr, the gas argon ND proposed for Phase II of DUNE, is presented. A number of additions to this are described, particularly focused on the development of the particle identification (PID) capabilities of the detector. These are then used to perform the first event selection studies with an end-to-end simulation in ND-GAr, in particular the selection of pion exclusive samples in $\nu_{\mu}$ CC interactions. All three of these projects share the common goal of enhancing the physics programme of DUNE.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Calibration of the DUNE Far Detector Using Cosmic-ray Muon Events

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) aims to set new limits on parameters associated with neutrino oscillations, neutrino astrophysics, and beyond the Standard Model (SM) searches such as nucleon decay. DUNE will quantify the magnitude of CP violation in the lepton sector, and determine the neutrino mass ordering. These benefit highly from the large target mass and excellent imaging, tracking, and particle identification capabilities of Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs). Detector calibration is essential to make precise physics measurements. For instance, accurate energy reconstruction is necessary for measuring many of the aforementioned quantities with the precision required for discovering new physics and fully exploiting the capabilities of the detector. Cosmic muons are a freely available natural source of calorimetric data and can be used for calibrating various detector parameters. This thesis provides an analysis of simulated cosmic-ray muon events generated with the Muon Simulation Underground (MUSUN) generator in the DUNE horizontal drift (HD) far detector (FD). The study focuses on analysing the energy and angular distribution of various classes of muon events, as well as characterising the different particles produced by cosmic muon interactions. The analysis of π0 → 2γ events within the cosmic-ray muon sample is presented in this thesis with a detailed study of reconstructing electromagnetic showers. The π0 mass is reconstructed within the DUNE FD, yielding a value of (136 ± 7) MeV/c2. Additionally, the thesis introduces methods for dE/dx calibration using simulated and reconstructed muon tracks. A calibration constant Ccal = (5.469 ± 0.003) × 10−3 ADC × tick/e is obtained through a model-dependent calibration process, where 1 tick corresponds to 500 ns of sampling time of an ADC. Furthermore, a calibration technique is presented, demonstrating precise translation from dQ/dx to dE/dx. This calibration method is applied to stopping muons, charged pions, and protons in the DUNE FD, addressing the measurement of energy loss in the detector volume. These are important calibrations of the DUNE FD and will contribute to achieving the exciting physics goals of the experiment.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

A Blessing in Disguise -- Characterisations of ProtoDUNE photon showers for neutrino measurements in DUNE

This thesis presents three studies performed on ProtoDUNE, a prototype liquid argon time projection chamber for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). The first study concerns the readout of detector data by the FELIX data acquisition system, as well as compression studies performed on the same data. The second study concerns the identification of photons created in neutral pion decay, which form a major background to neutrino-produced electrons. The distinction between electrons and photons is based on the differing energy deposition in the initial part of the particle showers they produce. The third study concerns the energy reconstruction of these particle showers in the detector. They have a known energy profile and can thus be used to calibrate the energy reconstruction of particle showers in general, a vital requirement for DUNE’s physics goals.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A search for Heavy Neutral Leptons with masses up to 150 MeV and studies on scintillation light detection in SBND

Introduction Neutrino physics is one of today’s most promising fields in particle physics. The discovery of neutrino oscillations is an evidence of their mass not being null. However, the Standard Model of elementary particles (SM) does not contain a mechanism that generates them, so we have to search beyond the SM to find answers. Other unknowns remain open, such as the amount of CP symmetry violated in the lepton sector that could help explain the differences between matter and antimatter that formed the present universe. Nor is it understood why these particles are so light, more than six orders of magnitude below the next fermion, the electron. A possible explanation is the existence of heavier neutrino mass states usually referred as heavy neutral leptons (HNLs). One of the most advanced technologies for detecting neutrino interactions is the liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). LArTPC detectors form a 3D image of the ionized electrons in the interaction, producing a detailed description of each neutrino event. Argon is also a prolific scintillator (40k photons/MeV) with light signals indicating the interaction time. The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND), a 112-active mass LArTPC at Fermilab, will measure millions of neutrino interactions from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB). As the near (L=110 m) detector of the Short-Baseline neutrino program, SBND will search for a fourth light neutrino (∼ eV) in the coming years. This hypothesis could explain the anomalous data observed in the LSND and MiniBooNE experiments.

Álvarez Garrote, Rodrigo [Madrid U.] (ORCID:000000↗

Selection Algorithm for electron neutrino charged current interactions in SBND

The Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab is a joint proposal by three experimental collaborations primarily for the investigation of the cause behind the low-energy electron-like event excess observed by the MiniBoone experiment. This dissertation focuses on the near detector of the project, named the Short Baseline Near Detector (SBND), a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber apparatus which will conduct searches for sterile neutrinos in the mass range of 1 ${eV}^2/{c}^4$, as well as provide cross-section measurements for neutrino interactions in argon and perform other beyond the standard model studies.\\ \indent As is the case for all detectors in the program, the SBND will use the Booster Neutrino Beam as its source, which will provide it with both muon and electron neutrinos. Given that the ability to discern between the neutrino flavors will be crucial to the fulfillment of the detector's physics goals, the objective of this work is to provide the collaboration with a tool capable of doing so. As such, we here present the development process for an inclusive selection algorithm for the identification of electron neutrino charged current (CC) events regardless of their interaction channel. This is done through a combination of traditional techniques, such as the implementation of cuts on the reconstructed interaction properties, with the use of the Convolutional Visual Network, a machine learning algorithm capable of classifying particle interactions through the analysis of the topology of their final states. With this approach, we have developed a selection process that is capable of identifying $\nu_e$ CC interactions across a wide range of topologies with 34.4\% efficiency, as well as a purity of 91.2\%, making it especially promising for use in cross section studies.

Freire, Hector Moya [ABC Federal U.] (ORCID:000900↗