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NA64 Collaboration(Cazzaniga, C. et al), & Molina Bueno, L. (2021). Probing the explanation of the muon (g-2) anomaly and thermal light dark matter with the semi-visible dark photon channel. Eur. Phys. J. C, 81(10), 959–6pp.
Abstract: We report the results of a search for a new vector boson (A') decaying into two dark matter particles chi 1 chi 2 of different mass. The heavier chi(2) particle subsequently decays to chi 1 and an off-shell Dark Photon A'* -> e(+)e(-). For a sufficiently largemass splitting, this model can explain in terms of new physics the recently confirmed discrepancy observed in themuon anomalous magnetic moment at Fermilab. Remark- ably, it also predicts the observed yield of thermal dark matter relic abundance. A detailed Monte-Carlo simulation was used to determine the signal yield and detection efficiency for this channel in the NA64 setup. The results were obtained reanalyzing the previous NA64 searches for an invisible decay A' -> chi(chi) over bar and axion-like or pseudo-scalar particles -> gamma gamma. With this method, we exclude a significant portion of the parameter space justifying the muon g-2 anomaly and being compatible with the observed dark matter relic density for A' masses from 2m(e) up to 390 MeV and mixing parameter e between 3 x 10(-5) and 2 x 10(-2).
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DUNE Collaboration(Abud, A. A. et al), Antonova, M., Barenboim, G., Cervera-Villanueva, A., De Romeri, V., Fernandez Menendez, P., et al. (2022). Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC. Eur. Phys. J. C, 82(7), 618–29pp.
Abstract: DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6 x 6 x 6 m(3) liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.
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DUNE Collaboration(Abud, A. A. et al), Antonova, M., Barenboim, G., Cervera-Villanueva, A., De Romeri, V., Fernandez Menendez, P., et al. (2022). Separation of track- and shower-like energy deposits in ProtoDUNE-SP using a convolutional neural network. Eur. Phys. J. C, 82(10), 903–19pp.
Abstract: Liquid argon time projection chamber detector technology provides high spatial and calorimetric resolutions on the charged particles traversing liquid argon. As a result, the technology has been used in a number of recent neutrino experiments, and is the technology of choice for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). In order to perform high precision measurements of neutrinos in the detector, final state particles need to be effectively identified, and their energy accurately reconstructed. This article proposes an algorithm based on a convolutional neural network to perform the classification of energy deposits and reconstructed particles as track-like or arising from electromagnetic cascades. Results from testing the algorithm on experimental data from ProtoDUNE-SP, a prototype of the DUNE far detector, are presented. The network identifies track- and shower-like particles, as well as Michel electrons, with high efficiency. The performance of the algorithm is consistent between experimental data and simulation.
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Mongillo, M., Abdullahi, A., Banto Oberhauser, B., Crivelli, P., Hostert, M., Massaro, D., et al. (2023). Constraining light thermal inelastic dark matter with NA64. Eur. Phys. J. C, 83(5), 391–14pp.
Abstract: A vector portal between the Standard Model and the dark sector is a predictive and compelling framework for thermal dark matter. Through co-annihilations, models of inelastic dark matter (iDM) and inelastic Dirac dark matter (i2DM) can reproduce the observed relic density in the MeV to GeV mass range without violating cosmological limits. In these scenarios, the vector mediator behaves like a semi-visible particle, evading traditional bounds on visible or invisible resonances, and uncovering new parameter space to explain the muon (g – 2) anomaly. By means of a more inclusive signal definition at the NA64 experiment, we place new constraints on iDM and i2DM using a missing energy technique. With a recast-based analysis, we contextualize the NA64 exclusion limits in parameter space and estimate the reach of the newly collected and expected future NA64 data. Our results motivate the development of an optimized search program for semi-visible particles, in which fixed target experiments like NA64 provide a powerful probe in the sub-GeV mass range.
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T2K Collaboration(Abe, K. et al), Antonova, M., Cervera-Villanueva, A., Molina Bueno, L., & Novella, P. (2023). Measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters from the T2K experiment using 3.6 x 10^21 protons on target. Eur. Phys. J. C, 83(9), 782–50pp.
Abstract: The T2K experiment presents new measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters using 19.7(16.3) x 10(20) protons on target (POT) in (anti-)neutrino mode at the far detector (FD). Compared to the previous analysis, an additional 4.7 x 10(20) POT neutrino data was collected at the FD. Significant improvements were made to the analysis methodology, with the near-detector analysis introducing new selections and using more than double the data. Additionally, this is the first T2K oscillation analysis to use NA61/SHINE data on a replica of the T2K target to tune the neutrino flux model, and the neutrino interaction model was improved to include new nuclear effects and calculations. Frequentist and Bayesian analyses are presented, including results on sin(2) theta(13) and the impact of priors on the delta(CP) measurement. Both analyses prefer the normal mass ordering and upper octant of sin(2) theta(23) with a nearly maximally CP-violating phase. Assuming the normal ordering and using the constraint on sin(2) theta(13) from reactors, sin(2) theta(23) = 0.561(-0.032)(+0.021) using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and Delta m(32)(2) = 2.494(-0.058)(+0.041) x 10(-3) eV(2) using constant Delta chi(2) intervals. The CP-violating phase is constrained to delta(CP) = -1.97(-0.70)(+0.97) using Feldman-Cousins corrected intervals, and delta(CP) = 0, pi is excluded at more than 90% confidence level. A Jarlskog invariant of zero is excluded at more than 2 sigma credible level using a flat prior in delta(CP), and just below 2 sigma using a flat prior in sin delta(CP). When the external constraint on sin(2) nu(13) is removed, sin(2) theta(13) = 28.0(-6.5)(+2.8) x 10(-3), in agreement with measurements from reactor experiments. These results are consistent with previous T2K analyses.
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