Extraction of neutrino flux with the low ν method at MiniBooNE energies

Bodek, A.; Sarica, U.; Kuzmin, Konstantin S.; Naumov, Vadim A.

doi:10.1063/1.4826751

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The total systematic uncertainty on the NuMI neutrino flux determination by the MINOS near detector reported in [155] was ∼ 6% and was limited by the detector performance. Recent independent studies on extraction of the neutrino flux using the low-ν 0 method [158] indicate that the technique can be reliably extended down to 1 GeV.…”

Section: -Flavor Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

Collaboration¹,

Adams²,

Adams³

et al. 2013

Preprint

182

315

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The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay -these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions.Experiments carried out over the past half century have revealed that neutrinos are found in three states, or flavors, and can transform from one flavor into another. These results indicate that each neutrino flavor state is a mixture of three different nonzero mass states, and to date offer the most compelling evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model. In a single experiment, LBNE will enable a broad exploration of the three-flavor model of neutrino physics with unprecedented detail. Chief among its potential discoveries is that of matter-antimatter asymmetries (through the mechanism of charge-parity violation) in neutrino flavor mixing -a step toward unraveling the mystery of matter generation in the early Universe. Independently, determination of the unknown neutrino mass ordering and precise measurement of neutrino mixing parameters by LBNE may reveal new fundamental symmetries of Nature.Grand Unified Theories, which attempt to describe the unification of the known forces, predict rates for proton decay that cover a range directly accessible with the next generation of large underground detectors such as LBNE's. The experiment's sensitivity to key proton decay channels will offer unique opportunities for the ground-breaking discovery of this phenomenon.Neutrinos emitted in the first few seconds of a core-collapse supernova carry with them the potential for great insight into the evolution of the Universe. LBNE's capability to collect and analyze this high-statistics neutrino signal from a supernova within our galaxy would provide a rare opportunity to peer inside a newly-formed neutron star and potentially witness the birth of a black hole.To achieve its goals, LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, highintensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a fine-grained near neutrino detector installed just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is ∼1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions.With its exceptional combi...

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Section: -Flavor Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

Collaboration¹,

Adams²,

Adams³

et al. 2013

Preprint

182

315

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…[32,33], and the treatment of the low-q 0 region by CCFR and NuTeV, it is natural to ask how application of the low-ν method for lower energy neutrino experiments can be justified. Bodek et al [43,44] discuss these concerns and argue that the low-ν method can be applied using low-q 0 cuts, intentionally isolating the quasielastic and region, exploring cuts on q 0 as low as q 0 ≤ 0.25 GeV. Bodek et al focus on the applicability of the method to the MINERvA and MiniBooNE experiments in the context of the GENIE model [45,46], 3 with additional theoretical arguments.…”

Section: History and Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A substandard candle: the low-$$\nu $$ method at few-GeV neutrino energies

et al. 2022

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As accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments improve oscillation parameter constraints with more data, control over systematic uncertainties on the incoming neutrino flux and interaction models is increasingly important. The intense beams offered by modern experiments permit a variety of options to constrain the flux using in situ “standard candle” measurements. These standard candles must use very well understood interaction processes to avoid introducing additional interaction model dependence. One option often discussed in this context is the “low-$$\nu $$ ν ” method, which is designed to isolate neutrino interactions where there is low energy-transfer to the nucleus, such that the interaction cross section is expected to be approximately constant as a function of neutrino energy. The shape of the low-energy transfer event sample can then be used to extract the flux shape. Applications of the method at high neutrino energies (many tens of GeV) are well understood. However, the applicability of the method at the lower energies of current and future few-GeV accelerator neutrino experiments remains unclear due to the presence of nuclear and form-factor effects inherent in the interaction models.In this analysis we examine the prospects for improving constraints on the accelerator neutrino fluxes in situ with the low-$$\nu $$ ν method in an experiment-independent way, using (anti)neutrino interactions on argon and hydrocarbon targets from the GENIE, NEUT, NuWro and GiBUU event generators. We begin by investigating the extent to which deviations from the constant cross-section assumption are dependent on poorly understood aspects of the neutrino interaction model. We then assess whether a low energy-transfer event sample can be confidently identified using experimentally accessible observables. We finally consider how the practicalities of reconstructing the energy spectrum of interacting neutrinos in realistic detectors might further limit the utility of low-$$\nu $$ ν flux constraints. The results show that flux constraints from the low-$$\nu $$ ν method would be severely dependent on the interaction model assumptions used in an analysis of neutrinos with energies below 5 GeV, and anti-neutrinos below at least 15 GeV. The spread of model predictions show that a low-$$\nu $$ ν analysis is unlikely to offer much improvement on typical neutrino flux uncertainties, even with a perfect detector. Notably—running counter to the assumption inherent to the low-$$\nu $$ ν method—the model-dependence increases with decreasing energy transfer for experiments in the few-GeV region.

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“…[29,30], and the treatment of the low-q 0 region by CCFR and NuTeV, it is natural to ask how application of the low-ν method for lower energy neutrino experiments can be justified. Bodek et al [40,41] discuss these concerns and argue that the low-ν method can be applied using low-q 0 cuts, intentionally isolating the quasielastic and ∆ region, exploring cuts on q 0 as low as q 0 ≤ 0.25 GeV. Bodek et al focus on the applicability of the method to the MINERvA and MiniBooNE experiments in the context of the GENIE model [42,43] 3 , with additional theoretical arguments.…”

Section: History and Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the decade since the publication of Refs. [40,41] there has been widespread development in the modeling of quasielastic and resonant region neutrino interactions, and the various nuclear effects that may play an important role [44][45][46][47]. Of particular relevance for the low-ν technique, there has been a lot of discussion about the neutrino energy dependence of some of these effects.…”

Section: History and Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A substandard candle: the low-$ν$ method at few-GeV neutrino energies

Wilkinson¹,

Dolan²,

Pickering³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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As accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments improve oscillation parameter constraints with more data, control over systematic uncertainties on the incoming neutrino flux and interaction models is increasingly important. The intense beams offered by modern experiments permit a variety of options to constrain the flux using in situ "standard candle" measurements. These standard candles must use very well understood interaction processes to avoid introducing additional interaction model dependence. One option often discussed in this context is the "low-ν" method, which is designed to isolate neutrino interactions where there is low energy-transfer to the nucleus, such that the interaction cross section is expected to be approximately constant as a function of neutrino energy. The shape of the low-energy transfer event sample can then be used to extract the flux shape. Applications of the method at high neutrino energies (many tens of GeV) are well understood. However, the applicability of the method at the lower energies of current and future few-GeV accelerator neutrino experiments remains unclear due to the presence of nuclear and formfactor effects inherent in the interaction models.In this analysis we examine the prospects for improving constraints on the accelerator neutrino fluxes in situ with the low-ν method in an experiment-independent way, using (anti)neutrino interactions on argon and hydrocarbon targets from the GENIE, NEUT, NuWro and GiBUU event generators. We begin by investigating the extent to which deviations from the constant cross-section assumption are dependent on poorly understood aspects of the neutrino interaction model. We then assess whether a low energy-transfer event sample can be confidently identified using experimentally accessible observables. We finally consider how the practicalities of reconstructing the energy spectrum of interacting neutrinos in realistic detectors might further limit the utila e-mail:

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Extraction of neutrino flux with the low ν method at MiniBooNE energies

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

A substandard candle: the low-$$\nu $$ method at few-GeV neutrino energies

A substandard candle: the low-$ν$ method at few-GeV neutrino energies

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