The impact of neutrino-nucleus interaction modeling on new physics searches

Abstract

Accurate neutrino-nucleus interaction modeling is an essential requirement for the success of the accelerator-based neutrino program. As no satisfactory description of cross sections exists, experiments tune neutrino-nucleus interactions to data to mitigate mis-modeling. In this work, we study how the interplay between near detector tuning and cross section mis-modeling affects new physics searches. We perform a realistic simulation of neutrino events and closely follow NOvA’s tuning, the first published of such procedures in a neutrino experiment. We analyze two illustrative new physics scenarios, sterile neutrinos and light neutrinophilic scalars, presenting the relevant experimental signatures and the sensitivity regions with and without tuning. While the tuning does not wash out sterile neutrino oscillation patterns, cross section mis-modeling can bias the experimental sensitivity. In the case of light neutrinophilic scalars, variations in cross section models completely dominate the sensitivity regardless of any tuning. Our findings reveal the critical need to improve our theoretical understanding of neutrino-nucleus interactions, and to estimate the impact of tuning on new physics searches. We urge neutrino experiments to follow NOvA’s example and publish the details of their tuning procedure, and to develop strategies to more robustly account for cross section uncertainties, which will expand the scope of their physics program.

Nucleon-Pion Spectroscopy from Sparsened Correlators

“…Maximizing the discovery potential of DUNE and other future accelerator neutrino experiments will require precise and accurate predictions for neutrino-nucleus cross sections [1]. Making cross-section predictions using controlled approximations to the Standard Model is essential for discovering beyond-the-Standard-Model (BSM) physics at neutrino experiments [2]. Lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is needed to provide first principles determinations of the nucleon-level processes that underlie nuclear effective field theories (EFTs) and phenomenological models of neutrino-nucleus scattering [3][4][5].…”

First Measurement of Energy-Dependent Inclusive Muon Neutrino Charged-Current Cross Sections on Argon with the MicroBooNE Detector

“…Uncertainties in modeling the neutrino interaction rate on argon impact the precision to which neutrino oscillation parameter measurements can be performed. Similarly, neutrino interactions constitute a background for beyond the standard model (BSM) processes [3]. In both cases, accurate modeling of the interaction rate and final-state particles produced in neutrino interactions is a crucial part of this experimental program.…”