Measurement of a neutral current PI0 cross section in the NOvA near detector

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Authors
Bowles, Reed
Advisors
Muether, Mathew
Issue Date
2018-04-06
Type
Abstract
Keywords
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Bowles, Reed. 2018. Measurement of a neutral current PI0 cross section in the NOvA near detector -- 18th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p. 19
Abstract

The NOvA long-baseline neutrino experiment is attempting to measure properties of subatomic particles called neutrinos in order to discover information about the universe. NOvA is a project based out of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The experiment works by firing an extremely high energy beam of neutrinos through the earth at a 14 kiloton detector located hundreds of miles away. This research focused on studying one specific background to the NOvA measurement called neutral current pion production. The goal of the study is to understand how to identify this type of background and consider it when performing measurements for NOvA. Additionally, a cross-section can be calculated to determine the probability of this type of interaction occurring in the detector. To understand neutral current pion productions, a preliminary cuts-based analysis was performed by hand to separate them from other interactions in the detector. Next, simulated data was fed into a boosted decision tree algorithm, a very powerful tool for separating neutral current pion production interactions from other interactions. After the initial separation, a sideband study was performed to minimize systematic errors. To determine the cross-section, the efficiency and purity of event selection was estimated, and the sideband study was utilized to calculate the cross-section uncertainty. After calculating a single cross-section, a resolution study will be performed to determine if a differential cross-section can be measured. Using this study, NOvA will be able to consider neutral current pion interactions in its final results.

Table of Contents
Description
First place winner of poster presentations at the 18th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 6, 2018.
Publisher
Wichita State University
Journal
Book Title
Series
URCAF
v.18
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
EISSN