This thesis explores the electron-neutrino and antineutrino cross
section on argon using the MicroBooNE liquid argon time projection
chamber detector. With only a handful of electron neutrino cross
section measurements in the hundred MeV to GeV range to date and only
one of them on argon as the target nucleus: the result from the
ArgoNeuT experiment, there is a need for new, large statistics,
electron-neutrino cross section measurements. The precise knowledge of
the electron neutrino cross section is fundamental for tests of lepton
universality, making meaningful interpretations of neutrino
oscillations and beyond the Standard Model search experiments
involving electron neutrinos. Moreover, the appearance of electron
neutrinos in a beam of predominantly muon neutrinos is the key
signature in searches for sterile neutrinos in short-baseline
experiments and measurements of Charge-Parity violation in
long-baseline oscillation experiments. The measurements in this
thesisutilize the NuMI neutrino beamline which is highly off-axis to
the MicroBooNE detector but provides a rich source of
electron-neutrinos. Critical to the measurement of the cross section
is a detailed understanding of the flux of neutrinos at MicroBooNE and
the uncertainties associated with it. The neutrino flux prediction
tools used for the on-axis NuMI experiments are described and studied
in detail for their implementation in the case of MicroBooNE. These
tools will form the foundation for many future measurements using the
NuMI beam at MicroBooNE. With the use of argon as a target for
studying neutrino interactions, the large size of the nucleus
introduces nuclear effects which impact the kinematics and
multiplicities of the particles produced in the initial interaction.
Such effects are complicated to model and are currently an active area
of research with various models and neutrino generators available. The
measurements in this thesis compare the electron-neutrino argon cross
section to several neutrino generators with differing physics models.
These comparisons provide important information in the modelling of
neutrino interactions with nuclei such as argon. The target audience
for this thesis is aimed at particle physics graduate students,
particularly in the field of neutrino physics working with noble
element time-projection chambers.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9783031195723
Publisert
2023
Utgiver
Springer Nature
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter