Title: Calorimetry for low-energy electrons using charge and light in liquid argon

Abstract

Precise calorimetric reconstruction of 5-50 MeV electrons in liquid argon time projection chambers (LArTPCs) will enable the study of astrophysical neutrinos in DUNE and could enhance the physics reach of oscillation analyses. Liquid argon scintillation light has the potential to improve energy reconstruction for low-energy electrons over charge-based measurements alone. Here we demonstrate light-augmented calorimetry for low-energy electrons in a single-phase LArTPC using a sample of Michel electrons from decays of stopping cosmic muons in the LArIAT experiment at Fermilab. In this work, Michel electron energy spectra are reconstructed using both a traditional charge-based approach as well as a more holistic approach that incorporates both charge and light. A maximum-likelihood fitter, using LArIAT's well-tuned simulation, is developed for combining these quantities to achieve optimal energy resolution. A sample of isolated electrons is simulated to better determine the energy resolution expected for astrophysical electron-neutrino charged-current interaction final states. In LArIAT, which has very low wire noise and an average light yield of 18 pe/MeV, an energy resolution of $$\sigma/E \simeq 9.3\%/\sqrt{E} \oplus 1.3\%$$ is achieved. Samples are then generated with varying wire noise levels and light yields to gauge the impact of light-augmented calorimetry in larger LArTPCs. At a charge-readout signal-to-noise of S/N $$\simeq$$ 30, for example, the energy resolution for electrons below 40 MeV is improved by $$\approx$$ 10%, $$\approx$$ 20%, and $$\approx$$ 40% over charge-only calorimetry for average light yields of 10 pe/MeV, 20 pe/MeV, and 100 pe/MeV, respectively.

Authors:

Foreman, W. ;

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Acciarri, R.; Asaadi, J. A.; Badgett, W.; Blaszczyk, F. d. M.; Bouabid, R.; Bromberg, C.; Carey, R.; Cavanna, F.; Cevallos Aleman, J. I.; Chatterjee, A.; Evans, J.; Falcone, A.; Flanagan, W.; Fleming, B. T.; Garcia-Gamez, D.; Gelli, B.; Ghosh, T.; Gomes, R. A.; Gramellini, E. more »; Gran, R.; Hamilton, P.; Hill, C.; Ho, J.; Hugon, J.; Iwai, E.; Kearns, E.; Kemp, E.; Kobilarcik, T.; Kordosky, M.; Kryczyński, P.; Lang, K.; Linehan, R.; Machado, A. A. B.; Maruyama, T.; Metcalf, W.; Moura, C. A.; Nichol, R.; Nunes, M.; Nutini, I.; Olivier, A.; Palamara, O.; Paley, J.; Paulucci, L.; Pulliam, G.; Raaf, J. L.; Rebel, B.; Rodrigues, O.; Mendes Santos, L.; Schmitz, D. W.; Segreto, E.; Smith, D.; Soderberg, M.; Spagliardi, F.; John, J. M. St.; Stancari, M.; Szelc, A. M.; Tzanov, M.; Walker, D.; Williams, Z.; Yang, T.; Yu, J.; Zhang, S. « less

Publication Date:

2020-01-22

Research Org.:

Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); National Science Foundation (NSF); Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) (United Kingdom); The Royal Society (United Kingdom); National Science Centre of Poland (NCN); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

Contributing Org.:

LArIAT Collaboration

OSTI Identifier:

1568848

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1596398

Report Number(s):

arXiv:1909.07920v3; FERMILAB-PUB-19-391-ND
Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010; PRVDAQ; oai:inspirehep.net:1754514; TRN: US2100138

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-07CH11359; PHY-1555090; 233511/2014-8; Dec-2013/09/N/ST2/02793; 25105008

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Physical Review D

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 101; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010

Publisher:

American Physical Society (APS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; 79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS