Studies of Single-Transverse Kinematic Variables for Neutrino Interactions on Argon
- Harvard U
It is now well-known that a variety of theoretically-challenging nuclear effects play an important role in determining neutrino-nucleus interaction cross sections. Deficiencies in existing models of these effects represent a leading source of systematic uncertainty for neutrino oscillation experiments. In recent neutrino cross section measurements published by the T2K and MINERvA experiments, the study of kinematic observables called Single-Transverse (Kinematic) Variables (STVs) in the plane transverse to the neutrino beam have been demonstrated to provide a powerful tool on nuclear modeling uncertainties. In the near future, the SBN and DUNE experiments will both leverage the novel Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber technology to pursue high-precision measurements of neutrino oscillations. As the interpretation of the results from these measurements will require a detailed understanding of neutrino-argon scattering cross sections and given the scarcity of available neutri no-argon data, a measurement of Single-Transverse Kinematic Variables distributions in neutrino-argon scattering is of high interest for the neutrino physics community. This thesis presents the first detailed comparison of model predictions for distributions of these observables obtained using four standard neutrino event simulation tools (GENIE, NuWro, GiBUU and NEUT). Results are shown for simulations of muon neutrinos from the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam interacting in the MicroBooNE LArTPC. Opportunities for discrimination between nuclear models with respect to future measurements is highlighted. Furthermore, first calculations of STVs from experimental argon data are shown. Data corresponding to 4.449x10^19 POT of exposure were collected using the MicroBooNE LArTPC in the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11359
- OSTI ID:
- 1661674
- Report Number(s):
- FERMILAB-MASTERS-2020-03; oai:inspirehep.net:1817474
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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