First Results of $$\nu_e$$ Appearance Analysis and Electron Neutrino Identification at NOvA
- Minnesota U.
NOvA is a long-baseline accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiment that is optimized for $$\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$$ measurements. It uses the upgraded NuMI beam from Fermilab and measures electron-neutrino appearance and muon-neutrino disappearance at its Far Detector in Ash River, Minnesota. The $$\nu_e$$ appearance analysis at NOvA aims to resolve the neutrino mass hierarchy problem and to constrain the CP-violating phase. The first data set of $$2.74\times10^{20}$$ protons on target (POT) equivalent exposure taken by NOvA has been analyzed. The first measurement of electron-neutrino appearance in NOvA provides solid evidence of $$\nu_\mu\to\nu_e$$ oscillation with the NuMI beam line. Electron-neutrino identification is the key ingredient for the $$\nu_e$$ appearance analysis. The electron-identification algorithm used to produce the primary results presented here compares 3-D shower-energy profiles with Monte Carlo prototypes to construct likelihoods for each particle hypothesis. Particle likelihoods, among other event-topology variables, are used as inputs to an Artificial Neural Network for the final electron-neutrino identification. The design and implementation of this algorithm is also presented.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
- Contributing Organization:
- NOvA
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359
- OSTI ID:
- 1250484
- Report Number(s):
- arXiv:1510.05708; FERMILAB-CONF-15-534-E; 1399048
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Meeting of the APS Division of Particles and Fields, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, 08/04-08/08/2015
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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