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Title: Energy and flavor discrimination using precision time structure in on-axis neutrino beams

Journal Article · · Physical Review D
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [3];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States). Enrico Fermi Inst.
  2. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
  3. Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States). Enrico Fermi Inst.; Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

We propose to use a higher-frequency rf bunch structure for the primary proton beam on target and precision timing to select different energy and flavor spectra from a wide-band neutrino beam, based on the relative arrival times of the neutrinos with respect to the rf bunch structure. This “stroboscopic” approach is complementary to techniques that select different neutrino energy spectra based on the angle with respect to the beam axis. A timing-based approach allows for the selection of varying energy spectra from the same on-axis detector, and applies equally to both the near and far detectors in an oscillation experiment. Energy and flavor discrimination of neutrinos produced by hadrons in-flight will require proton bunch lengths on the order of 100 ps and commensurate time resolution in the detector. Correlating neutrino events with the parent proton interaction is currently limited by the nanosecond-scale width of the proton bunches impinging on the target. We show that these limitations can be addressed by using a superconducting rf cavity to rebunch the present 53.1 MHz rf bunch structure with a factor of 10 higher rf frequency, thus attaining the required shorter bunch length.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359
OSTI ID:
1568844
Report Number(s):
arXiv:1904.01611; FERMILAB--FN-1068-DI; oai:inspirehep.net:1727972
Journal Information:
Physical Review D, Journal Name: Physical Review D Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 100; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 2470-0010
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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