arXiv subjects

Austin Schneider

Publications and source records attributed to Austin Schneider.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Simulation-Based Inference Evaluation of Tension Between MicroBooNE and MiniBooNE Results in a 3+1 Sterile Neutrino Global Fit

Compatibility between different datasets in a global fit is essential for determining whether a chosen model adequately describes the data. In a 3+1 sterile neutrino global fit, long-standing tensions between datasets sensitive to $\nu_e$ appearance and $\nu_e/\nu_\mu$ disappearance indicate a failure of the model to explain the observed data, despite an overall $> 5\sigma$ improvement over the $3\nu$ Standard Model (SM) based on a $\chi^2$ fit. Overall, a global preference for the 3+1 sterile-neutrino hypothesis with significant tension between experiments motivates consideration of more complex models, but these are currently computationally prohibitive to evaluate. This paper is the third in a series aimed at reducing computational cost by developing a Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) framework for global fits. Previous papers focused on rapidly fitting the data sets using frequentist (Feldman-Cousins) and Bayesian approaches, while in this work, we formalize a definition of tension within the SBI framework. As an example, we perform a full 3+1 fit to the charged-current quasi-elastic neutrino data from the MiniBooNE experiment and the inclusive neutrino data from the MicroBooNE experiment, located on the same beamline. Using experiment-supplied systematics as is, we find these data sets favor 3+1 at $3.6\sigma$ and $1.8\sigma$ respectively, while the tension between the two is $3.3\sigma$, when fit with the SBI procedure. After correcting for normalization differences between data and Monte Carlo in the MicroBooNE $\nu_\mu$ samples, the tension relaxes to $2.2\sigma$, indicating reduced but non-negligible disagreement. The observed tension may reflect both limitations of the 3+1 model in describing the datasets and the presence of systematic effects that impact the experiments differently.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

SIREN: An Open Source Neutrino Injection Toolkit

Modeling of rare neutrino processes often relies on either simple approximations or expensive detector simulations. The former is often not sufficient for interactions with complex morphologies, while the latter is too time-intensive for phenomenological studies. We present SIREN (Sampling and Injection for Rare EveNts), a new tool for neutrino phenomenology and experimental searches alike that enables accurate interaction and detector geometry modeling without the overhead of detailed detector response simulations. SIREN handles the injection of rare process final states and the associated weighting calculations with the speed needed for phenomenological investigations and the detail necessary for dedicated experimental searches. The extensible design of SIREN allows it to support a wide range of experimental designs and Beyond-Standard-Model neutrino interactions. Users need only specify the physical process, detector geometry, and initial neutrino flux under consideration before they can accurately simulate a model in their detector of choice. We demonstrate the capability of SIREN through two examples: (1) Standard Model $ν_μ$ deep inelastic scattering in IceCube, DUNE, and ATLAS; and (2) heavy neutral lepton interactions in MiniBooNE, MINER$ν$A, CCM. A variety of detector geometry descriptions, interaction cross sections, and neutrino fluxes are also provided for users to get started with immediately.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2023

Sensitivity to Supernovae Average $ν_x$ Temperature with Neutral Current Interactions in DUNE

We explore a novel method for measuring the average temperature of the $ν_x$ component in Type-II core-collapse supernovae. By measuring neutral current incoherent neutrino-Argon interactions in DUNE we can obtain spectral information for the combination of all active neutrino species. Combining this all-neutrino spectral information with detailed charged current measurements of the electron neutrino and electron anti-neutrino fluxes from DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande, we can infer the average temperature for the remaining neutrino species in the $ν_x$ component to within a factor two for most cases and to 30% for a small range of average $ν_x$ temperatures. Due to the limited energy range of the emitted photons from incoherent neutral current interactions on Argon, the $ν_x$ temperature reconstruction demonstrates a degeneracy in the one and two sigma credible regions. Furthermore, while large uncertainties on the NC cross-section penalize this measurement, we examined the efficacy of constraining NC cross-section uncertainties on improving $ν_x$ measurements. We found that if additional measurements of B(M1$\uparrow$) 1$^+$ excited state transitions in Argon are able to reduce correlated cross section uncertainties from 15% to 7%, the size of the $1σ$ allowed regions for $T_{ν_x}$ becomes sample size limited, and approaches the case where there are no uncertainties on the cross-section.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2023

Dipole-Coupled Neutrissimo Explanations of the MiniBooNE Excess Including Constraints from MINERvA Data

We revisit models of heavy neutral leptons (neutrissimos) with transition magnetic moments as explanations of the $4.8σ$ excess of electron-like events at MiniBooNE. We perform a detailed Monte Carlo-based analysis to re-examine the preferred regions in the model parameter space to explain MiniBooNE, considering also potential contributions from oscillations due to an eV-scale sterile neutrino. We then derive robust constraints on the model using neutrino-electron elastic scattering data from MINERvA. We find that MINERvA rules out a large region of parameter space, but allowed solutions exist at the $2σ$ confidence level. A dedicated MINERvA analysis would likely be able to probe the entire region of preference of MiniBooNE in this model.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Convolutional Neural Networks for Shower Energy Prediction in Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

When electrons with energies of $O(100)$ MeV pass through a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC), they deposit energy in the form of electromagnetic showers. Methods to reconstruct the energy of these showers in LArTPCs often rely on the combination of a clustering algorithm and a linear calibration between the shower energy and charge contained in the cluster. This reconstruction process could be improved through the use of a convolutional neural network (CNN). Here we discuss the performance of various CNN-based models on simulated LArTPC images, and then compare the best performing models to a typical linear calibration algorithm. We show that the CNN method is able to address inefficiencies caused by unresponsive wires in LArTPCs and reconstruct a larger fraction of imperfect events to within 5% accuracy compared with the linear algorithm.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Dark Matter Neutrino Scattering in the Galactic Center with IceCube

While there is evidence for the existence of dark matter, its properties have yet to be discovered. Simultaneously, the nature of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos detected by IceCube remains unresolved. If dark matter and neutrinos are coupled to each other, they may exhibit a non-zero elastic scattering cross section. Such an interaction between an isotropic extragalactic neutrino flux and dark matter would be concentrated in the Galactic Centre, where the dark matter column density is greatest. This scattering would attenuate the flux of high-energy neutrinos, which could be observed in IceCube. Using the seven-year Medium Energy Starting Events sample, we perform an unbinned likelihood analysis, searching for a signal based on a possible DM-neutrino interaction scenario. We search for a suppression of the high-energy astrophysical neutrino flux in the direction of the Galactic Centre, and compare these constraints to complementary low-energy information from large scale structure surveys and the cosmic microwave background.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Closing the Neutrino "BSM Gap": Physics Potential of Atmospheric Through-Going Muons at DUNE

Many Beyond-Standard Model physics signatures are enhanced in high-energy neutrino interactions. To explore these signatures, ultra-large Cherenkov detectors such as IceCube exploit event samples with charged current muon neutrino interactions > 1 TeV. Most of these interactions occur below the detector volume, and produce muons that enter the detector. However, the large spacing between detectors leads to inefficiency for measuring muons with energies below or near the critical energy of 400 GeV. In response, IceCube has built a densely instrumented region within the larger detector. This provides large samples of well-reconstructed interactions that are contained within the densely instrumented region, extending up to energies of ~50 GeV. This leaves a gap of relatively unexplored atmospheric-neutrino events with energies between 50 GeV and 1 TeV in the ultra-large detectors. In this paper we point out that interesting Beyond Standard Model signatures may appear in this energy window, and that early running of the DUNE far detectors can give insight into new physics that may appear in this range.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Characterization of the Astrophysical Diffuse Neutrino Flux with IceCube High-Energy Starting Events

The IceCube neutrino observatory has established the existence of an astrophysical diffuse neutrino component above $100$ TeV. This discovery was made using the high-energy starting event sample, which uses the outer layer of instrumented volume as a veto to significantly reduce atmospheric background. We present the latest astrophysical neutrino flux measurement using high-energy starting events. This latest iteration of the analysis extends the sample by $1.5$ years for a total of $7.5$ years, updates the event properties with newer models of light transport in the glacial ice, and has an improved systematic treatment. As part of this new analysis, we report on compatibility of our observations with detailed isotropic flux models proposed in the literature as well as the standard generic models such as single, double power-law scenarios. We find that none of the tested models are substantially preferred with respect to a single power law.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2019

Tackling limited simulation and small signals

We present a new, analytic, Poisson likelihood derived, technique to account for the statistical uncertainties inherent in simulation samples of limited size. This method has better coverage properties than other techniques, is valid for small data samples, and maintains good computational performance.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2019

A binned likelihood for stochastic models

Metrics of model goodness-of-fit, model comparison, and model parameter estimation are the main categories of statistical problems in science. Bayesian and frequentist methods that address these questions often rely on a likelihood function, which is the key ingredient in order to assess the plausibility of model parameters given observed data. In some complex systems or experimental setups, predicting the outcome of a model cannot be done analytically, and Monte Carlo techniques are used. In this paper, we present a new analytic likelihood that takes into account Monte Carlo uncertainties, appropriate for use in the large and small sample size limits. Our formulation performs better than semi-analytic methods, prevents strong claims on biased statements, and provides improved coverage properties compared to available methods.

physics.data-an↗

arXiv2018

Unified atmospheric neutrino passing fractions for large-scale neutrino telescopes

The atmospheric neutrino passing fraction, or self-veto, is defined as the probability for an atmospheric neutrino not to be accompanied by a detectable muon from the same cosmic-ray air shower. Building upon previous work, we propose a redefinition of the passing fractions by unifying the treatment for muon and electron neutrinos. Several approximations have also been removed. This enables performing detailed estimations of the uncertainties in the passing fractions from several inputs: muon losses, cosmic-ray spectrum, hadronic-interaction models and atmosphere-density profiles. We also study the passing fractions under variations of the detector configuration: depth, surrounding medium and muon veto trigger probability. The calculation exhibits excellent agreement with passing fractions obtained from Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, we provide a general software framework to implement this veto technique for all large-scale neutrino observatories.

hep-ph↗