arXiv subjects

A. Ereditato

Publications and source records attributed to A. Ereditato.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

First measurement of the $ν_μ$ charged-current cross section without pions in the final state on a water target

This paper reports the first differential measurement of the charged-current interaction cross section of $ν_μ$ on water with no pions in the final state. This flux-averaged measurement has been made using the T2K experiment's off-axis near detector, and is reported in doubly-differential bins of muon momentum and angle. The flux-averaged total cross section in a restricted region of phase space was found to be $ σ= (0.95 \pm 0.08 (\mbox{stat}) \pm 0.06 (\mbox{det. syst.}) \pm 0.04(\mbox{model syst.}) \pm{} 0.08(\mbox{flux}) ) \times 10^{-38} \mbox{cm}^2$ per n.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

Measurement of inclusive double-differential $ν_μ$ charged-current cross section with improved acceptance in the T2K off-axis near detector

We report a measurement of the flux-integrated cross section for inclusive muon neutrino charged-current interactions on carbon. The double differential measurements are given as function of the muon momentum and angle. Relative to our previous publication on this topic, these results have an increased angular acceptance and higher statistics. The data sample presented here corresponds to $5.7 \times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target. The total flux-integrated cross section is measured to be $(6.950 \pm 0.662) \times 10^{-39}$ cm$^2$nucleon$^{-1}$ and is consistent with our simulation.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2018

First Demonstration of a Pixelated Charge Readout for Single-Phase Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) have been selected for the future long-baseline Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). To allow LArTPCs to operate in the high-multiplicity near detector environment of DUNE, a new charge readout technology is required. Traditional charge readout technologies introduce intrinsic ambiguities, combined with a slow detector response, these ambiguities have limited the performance of LArTPCs, until now. Here, we present a novel pixelated charge readout that enables the full 3D tracking capabilities of LArTPCs. We characterise the signal to noise ratio of charge readout chain, to be about 14, and demonstrate track reconstruction on 3D space points produced by the pixel readout. This pixelated charge readout makes LArTPCs a viable option for the DUNE near detector complex.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2018

ArCLight - a Compact Dielectric Large-Area Photon Detector

ArCLight is a novel device for detecting scintillation light over large areas with Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE) of the order of a few percent. Its robust technological design allows for efficient use in large-volume particle detectors, such as Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPCs) or liquid scintillator detectors. Due to its dielectric structure it can be placed inside volumes with high electric field. It could potentially replace vacuum PhotoMultiplier Tubes (PMTs) in applications where high PDE is not required. The photon detection efficiency for a 10x10cm2 detector prototype was measured to be in the range of 0.8% to 2.2% across the active area.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of the single $π^0$ production rate in neutral current neutrino interactions on water

The single $π^0$ production rate in neutral current neutrino interactions on water in a neutrino beam with a peak neutrino energy of 0.6 GeV has been measured using the PØD, one of the subdetectors of the T2K near detector. The production rate was measured for data taking periods when the PØD contained water ($2.64\times{}10^{20}$ protons-on-target) and also periods without water ($3.49 \times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target). A measurement of the neutral current single $π^0$ production rate on water is made using appropriate subtraction of the production rate with water in from the rate with water out of the target region. The subtraction analysis yields 106 $\pm$ 41 (stat.) $\pm$ 69 (sys.) signal events, which is consistent with the prediction of 157 events from the nominal simulation. The measured to expected ratio is 0.68 $\pm$ 0.26 (stat.) $\pm$ 0.44 (sys.) $\pm$ 0.12 (flux). The nominal simulation uses a flux integrated cross section of $7.63\times{}10^{-39}$ cm${}^2$ per nucleon with an average neutrino interaction energy of 1.3 GeV.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Determination of muon momentum in the MicroBooNE LArTPC using an improved model of multiple Coulomb scattering

We discuss a technique for measuring a charged particle's momentum by means of multiple Coulomb scattering (MCS) in the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). This method does not require the full particle ionization track to be contained inside of the detector volume as other track momentum reconstruction methods do (range-based momentum reconstruction and calorimetric momentum reconstruction). We motivate use of this technique, describe a tuning of the underlying phenomenological formula, quantify its performance on fully contained beam-neutrino-induced muon tracks both in simulation and in data, and quantify its performance on exiting muon tracks in simulation. Using simulation, we have shown that the standard Highland formula should be re-tuned specifically for scattering in liquid argon, which significantly improves the bias and resolution of the momentum measurement. With the tuned formula, we find agreement between data and simulation for contained tracks, with a small bias in the momentum reconstruction and with resolutions that vary as a function of track length, improving from about 10% for the shortest (one meter long) tracks to 5% for longer (several meter) tracks. For simulated exiting muons with at least one meter of track contained, we find a similarly small bias, and a resolution which is less than 15% for muons with momentum below 2 GeV/c. Above 2 GeV/c, results are given as a first estimate of the MCS momentum measurement capabilities of MicroBooNE for high momentum exiting tracks.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Measurements of $π^\pm$, K$^\pm$, p and $\bar{\textrm{p}}$ spectra in proton-proton interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80 and 158 GeV/c with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS

Measurements of inclusive spectra and mean multiplicities of $π^\pm$, K$^\pm$, p and $\bar{\textrm{p}}$ produced in inelastic p+p interactions at incident projectile momenta of 20, 31, 40, 80 and 158 GeV/c ($\sqrt{s} = $ 6.3, 7.7, 8.8, 12.3 and 17.3 GeV, respectively) were performed at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron using the large acceptance NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer. Spectra are presented as function of rapidity and transverse momentum and are compared to predictions of current models. The measurements serve as the baseline in the NA61/SHINE study of the properties of the onset of deconfinement and search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Michel Electron Reconstruction Using Cosmic-Ray Data from the MicroBooNE LArTPC

The MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) has been taking data at Fermilab since 2015 collecting, in addition to neutrino beam, cosmic-ray muons. Results are presented on the reconstruction of Michel electrons produced by the decay at rest of cosmic-ray muons. Michel electrons are abundantly produced in the TPC, and given their well known energy spectrum can be used to study MicroBooNE's detector response to low-energy electrons (electrons with energies up to ~50 MeV). We describe the fully-automated algorithm developed to reconstruct Michel electrons, with which a sample of ~14,000 Michel electron candidates is obtained. Most of this article is dedicated to studying the impact of radiative photons produced by Michel electrons on the accuracy and resolution of their energy measurement. In this energy range, ionization and bremsstrahlung photon production contribute similarly to electron energy loss in argon, leading to a complex electron topology in the TPC. By profiling the performance of the reconstruction algorithm on simulation we show that the ability to identify and include energy deposited by radiative photons leads to a significant improvement in the energy measurement of low-energy electrons. The fractional energy resolution we measure improves from over 30% to ~20% when we attempt to include radiative photons in the reconstruction. These studies are relevant to a large number of analyses which aim to study neutrinos by measuring electrons produced by $ν_e$ interactions over a broad energy range.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

The Pandora multi-algorithm approach to automated pattern recognition of cosmic-ray muon and neutrino events in the MicroBooNE detector

The development and operation of Liquid-Argon Time-Projection Chambers for neutrino physics has created a need for new approaches to pattern recognition in order to fully exploit the imaging capabilities offered by this technology. Whereas the human brain can excel at identifying features in the recorded events, it is a significant challenge to develop an automated, algorithmic solution. The Pandora Software Development Kit provides functionality to aid the design and implementation of pattern-recognition algorithms. It promotes the use of a multi-algorithm approach to pattern recognition, in which individual algorithms each address a specific task in a particular topology. Many tens of algorithms then carefully build up a picture of the event and, together, provide a robust automated pattern-recognition solution. This paper describes details of the chain of over one hundred Pandora algorithms and tools used to reconstruct cosmic-ray muon and neutrino events in the MicroBooNE detector. Metrics that assess the current pattern-recognition performance are presented for simulated MicroBooNE events, using a selection of final-state event topologies.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of cosmic-ray reconstruction efficiencies in the MicroBooNE LArTPC using a small external cosmic-ray counter

The MicroBooNE detector is a liquid argon time projection chamber at Fermilab designed to study short-baseline neutrino oscillations and neutrino-argon interaction cross-section. Due to its location near the surface, a good understanding of cosmic muons as a source of backgrounds is of fundamental importance for the experiment. We present a method of using an external 0.5 m (L) x 0.5 m (W) muon counter stack, installed above the main detector, to determine the cosmic-ray reconstruction efficiency in MicroBooNE. Data are acquired with this external muon counter stack placed in three different positions, corresponding to cosmic rays intersecting different parts of the detector. The data reconstruction efficiency of tracks in the detector is found to be $ε_{\mathrm{data}}=(97.1\pm0.1~(\mathrm{stat}) \pm 1.4~(\mathrm{sys}))\%$, in good agreement with the Monte Carlo reconstruction efficiency $ε_{\mathrm{MC}} = (97.4\pm0.1)\%$. This analysis represents a small-scale demonstration of the method that can be used with future data coming from a recently installed cosmic-ray tagger system, which will be able to tag $\approx80\%$ of the cosmic rays passing through the MicroBooNE detector.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of neutrino and antineutrino oscillations by the T2K experiment including a new additional sample of $ν_e$ interactions at the far detector

The T2K experiment reports an updated analysis of neutrino and antineutrino oscillations in appearance and disappearance channels. A sample of electron neutrino candidates at Super-Kamiokande in which a pion decay has been tagged is added to the four single-ring samples used in previous T2K oscillation analyses. Through combined analyses of these five samples, simultaneous measurements of four oscillation parameters, $|Δm^2_{32}|$, $\sin^2(θ_{23})$, $\sin^2(θ_{13})$, and $δ_{CP}$ and of the mass ordering are made. A set of studies of simulated data indicates that the sensitivity to the oscillation parameters is not limited by neutrino interaction model uncertainty. Multiple oscillation analyses are performed, and frequentist and Bayesian intervals are presented for combinations of the oscillation parameters with and without the inclusion of reactor constraints on $\sin^2(θ_{13})$. When combined with reactor measurements, the hypothesis of CP conservation ($δ_{CP}$$=0$ or $π$) is excluded at 90% confidence level. The 90% confidence region for $δ_{CP}$ is [-2.95,-0.44] ([-1.47, -1.27]) for normal (inverted) ordering. The central values and 68\% confidence intervals for the other oscillation parameters for normal (inverted) ordering are $Δm^{2}_{32}=2.54\pm0.08$ ($2.51\pm0.08$) $\times 10^{-3}$ eV$^2 / c^4$ and $\sin^2(θ_{23}) = 0.55^{+0.05}_{-0.09}$ ($0.55^{+0.05}_{-0.08}$), compatible with maximal mixing. In the Bayesian analysis, the data weakly prefer normal ordering (Bayes factor 3.7) and the upper octant for $\sin^2(θ_{23})$ (Bayes factor 2.4).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Updated T2K measurements of muon neutrino and antineutrino disappearance using 1.5e21 protons on target

We report measurements by the T2K experiment of the parameters $θ_{23}$ and $Δm^{2}_{32}$ governing the disappearance of muon neutrinos and antineutrinos in the three flavor neutrino oscillation model. Utilizing the ability of the experiment to run with either a mainly neutrino or a mainly antineutrino beam, the parameters are measured separately for neutrinos and antineutrinos. Using $7.482 \times 10^{20}$ POT in neutrino running mode and $7.471 \times 10^{20}$ POT in antineutrino mode, T2K obtained, $\sin^{2}(θ_{23})=0.51^{+0.08}_{-0.07}$ and $Δm^{2}_{32} = 2.53^{+0.15}_{-0.13} \times 10^{-3}$eV$^{2}$/c$^{4}$ for neutrinos, and $\sin^{2}({\overlineθ}_{23})=0.42^{+0.25}_{-0.07}$ and ${Δ\overline{m}^2}_{32} = 2.55^{+0.33}_{-0.27} \times 10^{-3}$eV$^{2}$/c$^{4}$ for antineutrinos (assuming normal mass ordering). No significant differences between the values of the parameters describing the disappearance of muon neutrinos and antineutrinos were observed.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of $\barν_μ$ and $ν_μ$ charged current inclusive cross sections and their ratio with the T2K off-axis near detector

We report a measurement of cross section $σ(ν_μ+{\rm nucleus}\rightarrowμ^{-}+X)$ and the first measurements of the cross section $σ(\barν_μ+{\rm nucleus}\rightarrowμ^{+}+X)$ and their ratio $R(\frac{σ(\bar ν)}{σ(ν)})$ at (anti-)neutrino energies below 1.5 GeV. We determine the single momentum bin cross section measurements, averaged over the T2K $\barν/ν$-flux, for the detector target material (mainly Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Copper) with phase space restricted laboratory frame kinematics of $θ_μ<32^\circ$ and $p_μ>$500 MeV/c. The results are $σ(\barν)=\left( 0.900\pm0.029{\rm (stat.)}\pm0.088{\rm (syst.)}\right)\times10^{-39}$ and $σ(ν)=\left( 2.41\ \pm0.022{\rm{(stat.)}}\pm0.231{\rm (syst.)}\ \right)\times10^{-39}$ in units of cm$^{2}$/nucleon and $R\left(\frac{σ(\barν)}{σ(ν)}\right)= 0.373\pm0.012{\rm (stat.)}\pm0.015{\rm (syst.)}$.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Search for Lorentz and CPT violation using sidereal time dependence of neutrino flavor transitions over a short baseline

A class of extensions of the Standard Model allows Lorentz and CPT violations, which can be identified by the observation of sidereal modulations in the neutrino interaction rate. A search for such modulations was performed using the T2K on-axis near detector. Two complementary methods were used in this study, both of which resulted in no evidence of a signal. Limits on associated Lorentz and CPT violating terms from the Standard Model Extension have been derived taking into account their correlations in this model for the first time. These results imply such symmetry violations are suppressed by a factor of more than $10^{20}$ at the GeV scale.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of Meson Resonance Production in $π^{-} + $C Interactions at SPS energies

We present measurements of $ρ^0$, $ω$ and K$^{*0}$ spectra in $π^{-} + $C production interactions at 158 GeV/c and $ρ^0$ spectra at 350 GeV/c using the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS. Spectra are presented as a function of the Feynman's variable $x_\text{F}$ in the range $0 < x_\text{F} < 1$ and $0 < x_\text{F} < 0.5$ for 158 GeV/c and 350 GeV/c respectively. Furthermore, we show comparisons with previous measurements and predictions of several hadronic interaction models. These measurements are essential for a better understanding of hadronic shower development and for improving the modeling of cosmic ray air showers.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Noise Characterization and Filtering in the MicroBooNE Liquid Argon TPC

The low-noise operation of readout electronics in a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) is critical to properly extract the distribution of ionization charge deposited on the wire planes of the TPC, especially for the induction planes. This paper describes the characteristics and mitigation of the observed noise in the MicroBooNE detector. The MicroBooNE's single-phase LArTPC comprises two induction planes and one collection sense wire plane with a total of 8256 wires. Current induced on each TPC wire is amplified and shaped by custom low-power, low-noise ASICs immersed in the liquid argon. The digitization of the signal waveform occurs outside the cryostat. Using data from the first year of MicroBooNE operations, several excess noise sources in the TPC were identified and mitigated. The residual equivalent noise charge (ENC) after noise filtering varies with wire length and is found to be below 400 electrons for the longest wires (4.7 m). The response is consistent with the cold electronics design expectations and is found to be stable with time and uniform over the functioning channels. This noise level is significantly lower than previous experiments utilizing warm front-end electronics.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of $ν_μ$ and $\barν_μ$ Neutral Current $π^{0} \rightarrow γγ$ Production in the ArgoNeuT Detector

The ArgoNeuT collaboration reports the first measurement of neutral current $π^{0}$ production in $ν_μ$-argon and $\barν_μ$-argon scattering. This measurement was performed using the ArgoNeuT liquid argon time projection chamber deployed at Fermilab's NuMI neutrino beam with an exposure corresponding to 1.2$\times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target from the Fermilab Main Injector and a mean energy for $ν_μ$ of 9.6~GeV and for $\barν_μ$ of 3.6~GeV. We compare the measured cross section and kinematic distributions to predictions from the GENIE and NuWro neutrino interaction event generators.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of antiproton annihilation on Cu, Ag and Au with emulsion films

The characteristics of low energy antiproton annihilations on nuclei (e.g. hadronization and product multiplicities) are not well known, and Monte Carlo simulation packages that use different models provide different descriptions of the annihilation events. In this study, we measured the particle multiplicities resulting from antiproton annihilations on nuclei. The results were compared with predictions obtained using different models in the simulation tools GEANT4 and FLUKA. For this study, we exposed thin targets (Cu, Ag and Au) to a very low energy antiproton beam from CERN's Antiproton Decelerator, exploiting the secondary beamline available in the AEgIS experimental zone. The antiproton annihilation products were detected using emulsion films developed at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics in Bern, where they were analysed at the automatic microscope facility. The fragment multiplicity measured in this study is in good agreement with results obtained with FLUKA simulations for both minimally and heavily ionizing particles.

hep-ex↗