|
SciBooNE Collaboration(Cheng, G. et al), Catala-Perez, J., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., & Sorel, M. (2011). Measurement of K(+) production cross section by 8 GeV protons using high-energy neutrino interactions in the SciBooNE detector. Phys. Rev. D, 84(1), 012009–22pp.
Abstract: The SciBooNE Collaboration reports K(+) production cross section and rate measurements using high-energy daughter muon neutrino scattering data off the SciBar polystyrene (C(8)H(8)) target in the SciBooNE detector. The K(+) mesons are produced by 8 GeV protons striking a beryllium target in Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam line (BNB). Using observed neutrino and antineutrino events in SciBooNE, we measure d(2)sigma/dpd Omega = (5.34 +/- 0.76) mb/(GeV/c x sr) for p + Be -> K(+) + X at mean K(+) energy of 3.9 GeVand angle (with respect to the proton beam direction) of 3.7 degrees, corresponding to the selected K(+) sample. Compared to Monte Carlo predictions using previous higher energy K(+) production measurements, this measurement, which uses the NUANCE neutrino interaction generator, is consistent with a normalization factor of 0.85 +/- 0.12. This agreement is evidence that the extrapolation of the higher energy K(+) measurements to an 8 GeV beam energy using Feynman scaling is valid. This measurement reduces the error on the K(+) production cross section from 40% to 14%.
|
|
|
SciBooNE and MiniBooNE collaborations(Mahn, K. B. M. et al), Catala-Perez, J., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., & Sorel, M. (2012). Dual baseline search for muon neutrino disappearance at 0.5 eV(2) < Delta m(2) < 40 eV(2). Phys. Rev. D, 85(3), 032007–10pp.
Abstract: The SciBooNE and MiniBooNE collaborations report the results of a nu(mu) disappearance search in the Delta m(2) region of 0.5-40 eV(2). The neutrino rate as measured by the SciBooNE tracking detectors is used to constrain the rate at the MiniBooNE Cherenkov detector in the first joint analysis of data from both collaborations. Two separate analyses of the combined data samples set 90% confidence level (CL) limits on nu(mu) disappearance in the 0.5-40 eV(2) Delta m(2) region, with an improvement over previous experimental constraints between 10 and 30 eV(2).
|
|
|
SciBooNE and MiniBooNE collaborations(Cheng, G. et al), Catala-Perez, J., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., & Sorel, M. (2012). Dual baseline search for muon antineutrino disappearance at 0.1 eV(2) < Delta m(2) < 100 eV(2). Phys. Rev. D, 86(5), 052009–14pp.
Abstract: The MiniBooNE and SciBooNE collaborations report the results of a joint search for short baseline disappearance of (nu) over bar (mu) at Fermilab's Booster Neutrino Beamline. The MiniBooNE Cherenkov detector and the SciBooNE tracking detector observe antineutrinos from the same beam, therefore the combined analysis of their data sets serves to partially constrain some of the flux and cross section uncertainties. Uncertainties in the nu(mu) background were constrained by neutrino flux and cross section measurements performed in both detectors. A likelihood ratio method was used to set a 90% confidence level upper limit on (nu) over bar (mu) disappearance that dramatically improves upon prior limits in the Delta m(2) = 0.1-100 eV(2) region.
|
|
|
Renner, J., Cervera-Villanueva, A., Hernando, J. A., Izmaylov, A., Monrabal, F., Muñoz, J., et al. (2015). Improved background rejection in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments using a magnetic field in a high pressure xenon TPC. J. Instrum., 10, P12020–19pp.
Abstract: We demonstrate that the application of an external magnetic field could lead to an improved background rejection in neutrinoless double-beta (0 nu beta beta) decay experiments using a high-pressure xenon (HPXe) TPC. HPXe chambers are capable of imaging electron tracks, a feature that enhances the separation between signal events (the two electrons emitted in the 0 nu beta beta decay of Xe-136) and background events, arising chiefly from single electrons of kinetic energy compatible with the end-point of the 0 nu beta beta decay (Q(beta beta)). Applying an external magnetic field of sufficiently high intensity (in the range of 0.5-1 Tesla for operating pressures in the range of 5-15 atmospheres) causes the electrons to produce helical tracks. Assuming the tracks can be properly reconstructed, the sign of the curvature can be determined at several points along these tracks, and such information can be used to separate signal (0 nu beta beta) events containing two electrons producing a track with two different directions of curvature from background (single-electron) events producing a track that should spiral in a single direction. Due to electron multiple scattering, this strategy is not perfectly efficient on an event-by-event basis, but a statistical estimator can be constructed which can be used to reject background events by one order of magnitude at a moderate cost (about 30%) in signal efficiency. Combining this estimator with the excellent energy resolution and topological signature identification characteristic of the HPXe TPC, it is possible to reach a background rate of less than one count per ton-year of exposure. Such a low background rate is an essential feature of the next generation of 0 nu beta beta experiments, aiming to fully explore the inverse hierarchy of neutrino masses.
|
|
|
Oliveira, C. A. B., Sorel, M., Martin-Albo, J., Gomez-Cadenas, J. J., Ferreira, A. L., & Veloso, J. F. C. A. (2011). Energy resolution studies for NEXT. J. Instrum., 6, P05007–13pp.
Abstract: This work aims to present the current state of simulations of electroluminescence (EL) produced in gas-based detectors with special interest for NEXT – Neutrino Experiment with a Xenon TPC. NEXT is a neutrinoless double beta decay experiment, thus needs outstanding energy resolution which can be achieved by using electroluminescence. The process of light production is reviewed and properties such as EL yield and associated fluctuations, excitation and electroluminescence efficiencies, and energy resolution, are calculated. An EL production region with a 5 mm width gap between two infinite parallel planes is considered, where a uniform electric field is produced. The pressure and temperature considered are 10 bar and 293 K, respectively. The results show that, even for low values of VUV photon detection efficiency, good energy resolution can be achieved: below 0.4% (FWHM) at Q(beta beta) = 2.458 MeV.
|
|