-
Testing Meson Portal Dark Sector Solutions to the MiniBooNE Anomaly at CCM
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
S. Biedron,
J. Boissevain,
M. Borrego,
L. Bugel,
M. Chavez-Estrada,
J. M. Conrad,
R. L. Cooper,
A. Diaz,
J. R. Distel,
J. C. D'Olivo,
E. Dunton,
B. Dutta,
D. Fields,
J. R. Gochanour,
M. Gold,
E. Guardincerri,
E. C. Huang,
N. Kamp,
D. Kim,
K. Knickerbocker,
W. C. Louis,
J. T. M. Lyles,
R. Mahapatra,
S. Maludze
, et al. (20 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
A solution to the MiniBooNE excess invoking rare three-body decays of the charged pions and kaons to new states in the MeV mass scale was recently proposed as a dark-sector explanation. This class of solution illuminates the fact that, while the charged pions were focused in the target-mode run, their decay products were isotropically suppressed in the beam-dump-mode run in which no excess was obs…
▽ More
A solution to the MiniBooNE excess invoking rare three-body decays of the charged pions and kaons to new states in the MeV mass scale was recently proposed as a dark-sector explanation. This class of solution illuminates the fact that, while the charged pions were focused in the target-mode run, their decay products were isotropically suppressed in the beam-dump-mode run in which no excess was observed. This suggests a new physics solution correlated to the mesonic sector. We investigate an extended set of phenomenological models that can explain the MiniBooNE excess as a dark sector solution, utilizing long-lived particles that might be produced in the three-body decays of the charged mesons and the two-body anomalous decays of the neutral mesons. Over a broad set of interactions with the long-lived particles, we show that these scenarios can be compatible with constraints from LSND, KARMEN, and MicroBooNE, and evaluate the sensitivity of the ongoing and future data taken by the Coherent CAPTAIN Mills experiment (CCM) to a potential discovery in this parameter space.
△ Less
Submitted 22 March, 2024; v1 submitted 5 September, 2023;
originally announced September 2023.
-
Prospects for detecting axionlike particles at the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills experiment
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
D. S. M. Alves,
S. Biedron,
J. Boissevain,
M. Borrego,
L. Bugel,
M. Chavez-Estrada,
J. M. Conrad,
R. L. Cooper,
A. Diaz,
J. R. Distel,
J. C. D'Olivo,
E. Dunton,
B. Dutta,
D. Fields,
J. R. Gochanour,
M. Gold,
E. Guardincerri,
E. C. Huang,
N. Kamp,
D. Kim,
K. Knickerbocker,
W. C. Louis,
J. T. M. Lyles,
R. Mahapatra
, et al. (23 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We show results from the Coherent CAPTAIN Mills (CCM) 2019 engineering run which begin to constrain regions of parameter space for axion-like particles (ALPs) produced in electromagnetic particle showers in an 800 MeV proton beam dump, and further investigate the sensitivity of ongoing data-taking campaigns for the CCM200 upgraded detector. Based on beam-on background estimates from the engineerin…
▽ More
We show results from the Coherent CAPTAIN Mills (CCM) 2019 engineering run which begin to constrain regions of parameter space for axion-like particles (ALPs) produced in electromagnetic particle showers in an 800 MeV proton beam dump, and further investigate the sensitivity of ongoing data-taking campaigns for the CCM200 upgraded detector. Based on beam-on background estimates from the engineering run, we make realistic extrapolations for background reduction based on expected shielding improvements, reduced beam width, and analysis-based techniques for background rejection. We obtain reach projections for two classes of signatures; ALPs coupled primarily to photons can be produced in the tungsten target via the Primakoff process, and then produce a gamma-ray signal in the Liquid Argon (LAr) CCM detector either via inverse Primakoff scattering or decay to a photon pair. ALPs with significant electron couplings have several additional production mechanisms (Compton scattering, $e^+e^-$ annihilation, ALP-bremsstrahlung) and detection modes (inverse Compton scattering, external $e^+e^-$ pair conversion, and decay to $e^+e^-$). In some regions, the constraint is marginally better than both astrophysical and terrestrial constraints. With the beginning of a three year run, CCM will be more sensitive to this parameter space by up to an order of magnitude for both ALP-photon and ALP-electron couplings. The CCM experiment will also have sensitivity to well-motivated parameter space of QCD axion models. It is only a recent realization that accelerator-based large volume liquid argon detectors designed for low energy coherent neutrino and dark matter scattering searches are also ideal for probing ALPs in the unexplored $\sim$MeV mass scale.
△ Less
Submitted 26 May, 2023; v1 submitted 18 December, 2021;
originally announced December 2021.
-
First Leptophobic Dark Matter Search from Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
D. S. M. Alves,
S. Biedron,
J. Boissevain,
M. Borrego,
M. Chavez-Estrada,
A. Chavez,
J. M. Conrad,
R. L. Cooper,
A. Diaz,
J. R. Distel,
J. C. D'Olivo,
E. Dunton,
B. Dutta,
A. Elliott,
D. Evans,
D. Fields,
J. Greenwood,
M. Gold,
J. Gordon,
E. Guarincerri,
E. C. Huang,
N. Kamp,
C. Kelsey,
K. Knickerbocker
, et al. (26 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We report the first results of a search for leptophobic dark matter (DM) from the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) liquid argon (LAr) detector. An engineering run with 120 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and $17.9 \times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target (POT) was performed in Fall 2019 to study the characteristics of the CCM detector. The operation of this 10-ton detector was strictly light-based with a thresh…
▽ More
We report the first results of a search for leptophobic dark matter (DM) from the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) liquid argon (LAr) detector. An engineering run with 120 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and $17.9 \times 10^{20}$ protons-on-target (POT) was performed in Fall 2019 to study the characteristics of the CCM detector. The operation of this 10-ton detector was strictly light-based with a threshold of 50 keV and used coherent elastic scattering off argon nuclei to detect DM. Despite only 1.5 months of accumulated luminosity, contaminated LAr, and non-optimized shielding, CCM's first engineering run already achieved sensitivity to previously unexplored parameter space of light dark matter (LDM) models with a baryonic vector portal. With an expected background of 115,005 events, we observe 115,005+16.5 events which is compatible with background expectations. For a benchmark mediator-to-dark matter mass ratio of $m_{_{V_B}}/m_χ=2.1$, DM masses within the range $9\,\text{MeV} \lesssim m_χ\lesssim 50\,\text{MeV}$ have been excluded at 90% C.L. in the leptophobic model after applying the Feldman-Cousins test statistic. CCM's upgraded run with 200 PMTs, filtered LAr, improved shielding, and ten times more POT will be able to exclude the remaining thermal relic density parameter space of this model, as well as probe new parameter space of other leptophobic DM models.
△ Less
Submitted 19 May, 2022; v1 submitted 28 September, 2021;
originally announced September 2021.
-
First Dark Matter Search Results From Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
S. Biedron,
J. Boissevain,
M. Borrego,
M. Chavez-Estrada,
A. Chavez,
J. M. Conrad,
R. L. Cooper,
A. Diaz,
J. R. Distel,
J. D'Olivo,
E. Dunton,
B. Dutta,
A. Elliott,
D. Evans,
D. Fields,
J. Greenwood,
M. Gold,
J. Gordon,
E. D. Guarincerri,
E. C. Huang,
N. Kamp,
C. Kelsey,
K. Knickerbocker,
R. Lake
, et al. (25 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
This paper describes the operation of the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) detector located at the Lujan Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). CCM is a 10-ton liquid argon (LAr) detector located 20 meters from a high flux neutron/neutrino source and is designed to search for sterile neutrinos ($ν_s$) and light dark matter (LDM). An engineering run was performed in F…
▽ More
This paper describes the operation of the Coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) detector located at the Lujan Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). CCM is a 10-ton liquid argon (LAr) detector located 20 meters from a high flux neutron/neutrino source and is designed to search for sterile neutrinos ($ν_s$) and light dark matter (LDM). An engineering run was performed in Fall 2019 to study the characteristics of the CCM120 detector by searching for coherent scattering signals consistent with $ν_s$'s and LDM resulting from $π^+$ and $π^0$ decays in the tungsten target. New parameter space in a leptophobic dark matter model was excluded for DM masses between $\sim2.0$ and 30 MeV. The lessons learned from this run have guided the development and construction of the new CCM200 detector that will begin operations in 2021 and significantly improve on these searches.
△ Less
Submitted 19 May, 2022; v1 submitted 28 May, 2021;
originally announced May 2021.
-
Dark Matter Search in Nucleon, Pion, and Electron Channels from a Proton Beam Dump with MiniBooNE
Authors:
MiniBooNE-DM Collaboration,
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
M. Backfish,
A. Bashyal,
B. Batell,
B. C. Brown,
R. Carr,
A. Chatterjee,
R. L. Cooper,
P. deNiverville,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
J. A. Green,
E. -C. Huang,
W. Huelsnitz,
I. L. de Icaza Astiz,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
W. Ketchum,
T. Kobilarcik,
Q. Liu
, et al. (20 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
A search for sub-GeV dark matter produced from collisions of the Fermilab 8 GeV Booster protons with a steel beam dump was performed by the MiniBooNE-DM Collaboration using data from $1.86 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in a dedicated run. The MiniBooNE detector, consisting of 818 tons of mineral oil and located 490 meters downstream of the beam dump, is sensitive to a variety of dark matter in…
▽ More
A search for sub-GeV dark matter produced from collisions of the Fermilab 8 GeV Booster protons with a steel beam dump was performed by the MiniBooNE-DM Collaboration using data from $1.86 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in a dedicated run. The MiniBooNE detector, consisting of 818 tons of mineral oil and located 490 meters downstream of the beam dump, is sensitive to a variety of dark matter initiated scattering reactions. Three dark matter interactions are considered for this analysis: elastic scattering off nucleons, inelastic neutral pion production, and elastic scattering off electrons. Multiple data sets were used to constrain flux and systematic errors, and time-of-flight information was employed to increase sensitivity to higher dark matter masses. No excess from the background predictions was observed, and 90$\%$ confidence level limits were set on the vector portal and leptophobic dark matter models. New parameter space is excluded in the vector portal dark matter model with a dark matter mass between 5 and 50$\,\mathrm{MeV}\,c^{-2}$. The reduced neutrino flux allowed to test if the MiniBooNE neutrino excess scales with the production of neutrinos. No excess of neutrino oscillation events were measured ruling out models that scale solely by number of protons on target independent of beam configuration at 4.6$σ$.
△ Less
Submitted 29 March, 2019; v1 submitted 16 July, 2018;
originally announced July 2018.
-
Significant Excess of ElectronLike Events in the MiniBooNE Short-Baseline Neutrino Experiment
Authors:
MiniBooNE Collaboration,
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
J. M. Conrad,
R. L. Cooper,
R. Dharmapalan,
A. Diaz,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
E. -C. Huang,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
C. Mariani,
W. Marsh
, et al. (23 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of $ν_e$ appearance data from $12.84 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in neutrino mode, an increase of approximately a factor of two over previously reported results. A $ν_e$ charged-current quasielastic event excess of $381.2 \pm 85.2$ events ($4.5 σ$) is observed in the energy range $200<E_ν^{QE}<1250$~MeV. Combining these da…
▽ More
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of $ν_e$ appearance data from $12.84 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in neutrino mode, an increase of approximately a factor of two over previously reported results. A $ν_e$ charged-current quasielastic event excess of $381.2 \pm 85.2$ events ($4.5 σ$) is observed in the energy range $200<E_ν^{QE}<1250$~MeV. Combining these data with the $\bar ν_e$ appearance data from $11.27 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in antineutrino mode, a total $ν_e$ plus $\bar ν_e$ charged-current quasielastic event excess of $460.5 \pm 99.0$ events ($4.7 σ$) is observed. If interpreted in a two-neutrino oscillation model, $ν_μ \rightarrow ν_e$, the best oscillation fit to the excess has a probability of $21.1\%$, while the background-only fit has a $χ^2$ probability of $6 \times 10^{-7}$ relative to the best fit. The MiniBooNE data are consistent in energy and magnitude with the excess of events reported by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND), and the significance of the combined LSND and MiniBooNE excesses is $6.0 σ$. A two-neutrino oscillation interpretation of the data would require at least four neutrino types and indicate physics beyond the three neutrino paradigm.Although the data are fit with a two-neutrino oscillation model, other models may provide better fits to the data.
△ Less
Submitted 26 October, 2018; v1 submitted 30 May, 2018;
originally announced May 2018.
-
First Measurement of Monoenergetic Muon Neutrino Charged Current Interactions
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. L. Cooper,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. S. Fitzpatrick,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
J. R. Jordan,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
K. Mahn
, et al. (24 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We report the first measurement of monoenergetic muon neutrino charged current interactions. MiniBooNE has isolated 236 MeV muon neutrino events originating from charged kaon decay at rest ($K^+ \rightarrow μ^+ ν_μ$) at the NuMI beamline absorber. These signal $ν_μ$-carbon events are distinguished from primarily pion decay in flight $ν_μ$ and $\overlineν_μ$ backgrounds produced at the target stati…
▽ More
We report the first measurement of monoenergetic muon neutrino charged current interactions. MiniBooNE has isolated 236 MeV muon neutrino events originating from charged kaon decay at rest ($K^+ \rightarrow μ^+ ν_μ$) at the NuMI beamline absorber. These signal $ν_μ$-carbon events are distinguished from primarily pion decay in flight $ν_μ$ and $\overlineν_μ$ backgrounds produced at the target station and decay pipe using their arrival time and reconstructed muon energy. The significance of the signal observation is at the 3.9$σ$ level. The muon kinetic energy, neutrino-nucleus energy transfer ($ω=E_ν-E_μ$), and total cross section for these events is extracted. This result is the first known-energy, weak-interaction-only probe of the nucleus to yield a measurement of $ω$ using neutrinos, a quantity thus far only accessible through electron scattering.
△ Less
Submitted 7 May, 2018; v1 submitted 11 January, 2018;
originally announced January 2018.
-
Dark Matter Search in a Proton Beam Dump with MiniBooNE
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
M. Backfish,
A. Bashyal,
B. Batell,
B. C. Brown,
R. Carr,
A. Chatterjee,
R. L. Cooper,
P. deNiverville,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
J. A. Green,
W. Huelsnitz,
I. L. de Icaza Astiz,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
W. Ketchum,
T. Kobilarcik,
Q. Liu,
W. C. Louis,
W. Marsh
, et al. (18 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The MiniBooNE-DM collaboration searched for vector-boson mediated production of dark matter using the Fermilab 8 GeV Booster proton beam in a dedicated run with $1.86 \times 10^{20}$ protons delivered to a steel beam dump. The MiniBooNE detector, 490~m downstream, is sensitive to dark matter via elastic scattering with nucleons in the detector mineral oil. Analysis methods developed for previous M…
▽ More
The MiniBooNE-DM collaboration searched for vector-boson mediated production of dark matter using the Fermilab 8 GeV Booster proton beam in a dedicated run with $1.86 \times 10^{20}$ protons delivered to a steel beam dump. The MiniBooNE detector, 490~m downstream, is sensitive to dark matter via elastic scattering with nucleons in the detector mineral oil. Analysis methods developed for previous MiniBooNE scattering results were employed, and several constraining data sets were simultaneously analyzed to minimize systematic errors from neutrino flux and interaction rates. No excess of events over background was observed, leading to a 90\% confidence limit on the dark-matter cross section parameter, $Y=ε^2α_D(m_χ/m_V)^4 \lesssim10^{-8}$, for $α_D=0.5$ and for dark-matter masses of $0.01<m_χ<0.3~\mathrm{GeV}$ in a vector portal model of dark matter. This is the best limit from a dedicated proton beam dump search in this mass and coupling range and extends below the mass range of direct dark matter searches. These results demonstrate a novel and powerful approach to dark matter searches with beam dump experiments.
△ Less
Submitted 23 August, 2017; v1 submitted 8 February, 2017;
originally announced February 2017.
-
Using L/E Oscillation Probability Distributions
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
C. Mariani,
W. Marsh,
G. B. Mills,
J. Mirabal
, et al. (19 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
This paper explores the use of $L/E$ oscillation probability distributions to compare experimental measurements and to evaluate oscillation models. In this case, $L$ is the distance of neutrino travel and $E$ is a measure of the interacting neutrino's energy. While comparisons using allowed and excluded regions for oscillation model parameters are likely the only rigorous method for these comparis…
▽ More
This paper explores the use of $L/E$ oscillation probability distributions to compare experimental measurements and to evaluate oscillation models. In this case, $L$ is the distance of neutrino travel and $E$ is a measure of the interacting neutrino's energy. While comparisons using allowed and excluded regions for oscillation model parameters are likely the only rigorous method for these comparisons, the $L/E$ distributions are shown to give qualitative information on the agreement of an experiment's data with a simple two-neutrino oscillation model. In more detail, this paper also outlines how the $L/E$ distributions can be best calculated and used for model comparisons. Specifically, the paper presents the $L/E$ data points for the final MiniBooNE data samples and, in the Appendix, explains and corrects the mistaken analysis published by the ICARUS collaboration.
△ Less
Submitted 11 July, 2014;
originally announced July 2014.
-
Measurement of the Antineutrino Neutral-Current Elastic Differential Cross Section
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
C. Mariani,
W. Marsh,
G. B. Mills,
J. Mirabal
, et al. (20 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We report the measurement of the flux-averaged antineutrino neutral current elastic scattering cross section ($dσ_{\bar νN \rightarrow \bar νN}/dQ^{2}$) on CH$_{2}$ by the MiniBooNE experiment using the largest sample of antineutrino neutral current elastic candidate events ever collected. The ratio of the antineutrino to neutrino neutral current elastic scattering cross sections and a ratio of an…
▽ More
We report the measurement of the flux-averaged antineutrino neutral current elastic scattering cross section ($dσ_{\bar νN \rightarrow \bar νN}/dQ^{2}$) on CH$_{2}$ by the MiniBooNE experiment using the largest sample of antineutrino neutral current elastic candidate events ever collected. The ratio of the antineutrino to neutrino neutral current elastic scattering cross sections and a ratio of antineutrino neutral current elastic to antineutrino charged current quasi elastic cross section is also presented.
△ Less
Submitted 27 September, 2013;
originally announced September 2013.
-
Improved Search for $\bar ν_μ\rightarrow \bar ν_e$ Oscillations in the MiniBooNE Experiment
Authors:
The MiniBooNE Collaboration,
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
C. Mariani,
W. Marsh,
G. B. Mills
, et al. (20 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of $\bar ν_e$ appearance data from $11.27 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in antineutrino mode, an increase of approximately a factor of two over the previously reported results. An event excess of $78.4 \pm 28.5$ events ($2.8 σ$) is observed in the energy range $200<E_ν^{QE}<1250$ MeV. If interpreted in a two-neutrino oscilla…
▽ More
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of $\bar ν_e$ appearance data from $11.27 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in antineutrino mode, an increase of approximately a factor of two over the previously reported results. An event excess of $78.4 \pm 28.5$ events ($2.8 σ$) is observed in the energy range $200<E_ν^{QE}<1250$ MeV. If interpreted in a two-neutrino oscillation model, $\barν_μ\rightarrow\barν_e$, the best oscillation fit to the excess has a probability of 66% while the background-only fit has a $χ^2$-probability of 0.5% relative to the best fit. The data are consistent with antineutrino oscillations in the $0.01 < Δm^2 < 1.0$ eV$^2$ range and have some overlap with the evidence for antineutrino oscillations from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND). All of the major backgrounds are constrained by in-situ event measurements so non-oscillation explanations would need to invoke new anomalous background processes. The neutrino mode running also shows an excess at low energy of $162.0 \pm 47.8$ events ($3.4 σ$) but the energy distribution of the excess is marginally compatible with a simple two neutrino oscillation formalism. Expanded models with several sterile neutrinos can reduce the incompatibility by allowing for CP violating effects between neutrino and antineutrino oscillations.
△ Less
Submitted 12 March, 2013; v1 submitted 11 March, 2013;
originally announced March 2013.
-
First Measurement of the Muon Anti-Neutrino Double-Differential Charged Current Quasi-Elastic Cross Section
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
C. Mariani,
W. Marsh,
G. B. Mills,
J. Mirabal
, et al. (20 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The largest sample ever recorded of $\numub$ charged-current quasi-elastic (CCQE, $\numub + p \to \mup + n$) candidate events is used to produce the minimally model-dependent, flux-integrated double-differential cross section $\frac{d^{2}σ}{dT_μd\uz}$ for $\numub$ incident on mineral oil. This measurement exploits the unprecedented statistics of the MiniBooNE anti-neutrino mode sample and provides…
▽ More
The largest sample ever recorded of $\numub$ charged-current quasi-elastic (CCQE, $\numub + p \to \mup + n$) candidate events is used to produce the minimally model-dependent, flux-integrated double-differential cross section $\frac{d^{2}σ}{dT_μd\uz}$ for $\numub$ incident on mineral oil. This measurement exploits the unprecedented statistics of the MiniBooNE anti-neutrino mode sample and provides the most complete information of this process to date. Also given to facilitate historical comparisons are the flux-unfolded total cross section $σ(E_ν)$ and single-differential cross section $\frac{dσ}{d\qsq}$ on both mineral oil and on carbon by subtracting the $\numub$ CCQE events on hydrogen. The observed cross section is somewhat higher than the predicted cross section from a model assuming independently-acting nucleons in carbon with canonical form factor values. The shape of the data are also discrepant with this model. These results have implications for intra-nuclear processes and can help constrain signal and background processes for future neutrino oscillation measurements.
△ Less
Submitted 4 August, 2013; v1 submitted 29 January, 2013;
originally announced January 2013.
-
Low Mass WIMP Searches with a Neutrino Experiment: A Proposal for Further MiniBooNE Running
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. Batell,
R. Cooper,
P. deNiverville,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
S. Habib,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Jiang,
R. A. Johnson,
W. Ketchum,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
W. Marsh,
D. McKeen,
G. B. Mills,
J. Mirabal,
C. D. Moore,
P. Nienaber,
Z. Pavlovic,
D. Perevalov
, et al. (8 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
A proposal submitted to the FNAL PAC is described to search for light sub-GeV WIMP dark matter at MiniBooNE. The possibility to steer the beam past the target and into an absorber leads to a significant reduction in neutrino background, allowing for a sensitive search for elastic scattering of WIMPs off nucleons or electrons in the detector. Dark matter models involving a vector mediator can be pr…
▽ More
A proposal submitted to the FNAL PAC is described to search for light sub-GeV WIMP dark matter at MiniBooNE. The possibility to steer the beam past the target and into an absorber leads to a significant reduction in neutrino background, allowing for a sensitive search for elastic scattering of WIMPs off nucleons or electrons in the detector. Dark matter models involving a vector mediator can be probed in a parameter region consistent with the required thermal relic density, and which overlaps the region in which these models can resolve the muon g-2 discrepancy. Estimates of signal significance are presented for various operational modes and parameter points. The experimental approach outlined for applying MiniBooNE to a light WIMP search may also be applicable to other neutrino facilities.
△ Less
Submitted 9 November, 2012;
originally announced November 2012.
-
Dual baseline search for muon antineutrino disappearance at 0.1 eV^2 < Δm^2 < 100 eV^2
Authors:
MiniBooNE Collaboration,
SciBooNE Collaboration,
G. Cheng,
W. Huelsnitz,
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
J. L. Alcaraz-Aunion,
S. J. Brice,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
J. Catala-Perez,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
U. Dore,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
A. J. Franke,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
C. Giganti,
J. J. Gomez-Cadenas,
J. Grange,
P. Guzowski,
A. Hanson
, et al. (66 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The MiniBooNE and SciBooNE collaborations report the results of a joint search for short baseline disappearance of \bar{ν_μ} at Fermilab's Booster Neutrino Beamline. The MiniBooNE Cherenkov detector and the SciBooNE tracking detector observe antineutrinos from the same beam, therefore the combined analysis of their datasets serves to partially constrain some of the flux and cross section uncertain…
▽ More
The MiniBooNE and SciBooNE collaborations report the results of a joint search for short baseline disappearance of \bar{ν_μ} at Fermilab's Booster Neutrino Beamline. The MiniBooNE Cherenkov detector and the SciBooNE tracking detector observe antineutrinos from the same beam, therefore the combined analysis of their datasets serves to partially constrain some of the flux and cross section uncertainties. Uncertainties in the ν_μ background were constrained by neutrino flux and cross section measurements performed in both detectors. A likelihood ratio method was used to set a 90% confidence level upper limit on \bar{ν_μ} disappearance that dramatically improves upon prior limits in the Δm^2=0.1-100 eV^2 region.
△ Less
Submitted 5 November, 2012; v1 submitted 1 August, 2012;
originally announced August 2012.
-
A Combined $ν_μ\to ν_e$ and $\barν_μ\to \barν_e$ Oscillation Analysis of the MiniBooNE Excesses
Authors:
MiniBooNE Collaboration,
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
G. Cheng,
E. D. Church,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
D. A. Finley,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
W. Huelsnitz,
C. Ignarra,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
W. C. Louis,
C. Mariani,
W. Marsh,
G. B. Mills
, et al. (20 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of the combined $ν_e$ and $\bar ν_e$ appearance data from $6.46 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in neutrino mode and $11.27 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in antineutrino mode. A total excess of $240.3 \pm 34.5 \pm 52.6$ events ($3.8 σ$) is observed from combining the two data sets in the energy range $200<E_ν^{QE}<1250$ Me…
▽ More
The MiniBooNE experiment at Fermilab reports results from an analysis of the combined $ν_e$ and $\bar ν_e$ appearance data from $6.46 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in neutrino mode and $11.27 \times 10^{20}$ protons on target in antineutrino mode. A total excess of $240.3 \pm 34.5 \pm 52.6$ events ($3.8 σ$) is observed from combining the two data sets in the energy range $200<E_ν^{QE}<1250$ MeV. In a combined fit for CP-conserving $ν_μ\rightarrow ν_e$ and $\barν_μ\rightarrow\barν_e$ oscillations via a two-neutrino model, the background-only fit has a $χ^2$-probability of 0.03% relative to the best oscillation fit. The data are consistent with neutrino oscillations in the $0.01 < Δm^2 < 1.0$ eV$^2$ range and with the evidence for antineutrino oscillations from the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND).
△ Less
Submitted 27 August, 2012; v1 submitted 19 July, 2012;
originally announced July 2012.
-
Measurement of the neutrino component of an anti-neutrino beam observed by a non-magnetized detector
Authors:
A. A. Aguilar-Arevalo,
C. E. Anderson,
S. J. Brice,
B. C. Brown,
L. Bugel,
J. M. Conrad,
R. Dharmapalan,
Z. Djurcic,
B. T. Fleming,
R. Ford,
F. G. Garcia,
G. T. Garvey,
J. Grange,
J. A. Green,
R. Imlay,
R. A. Johnson,
G. Karagiorgi,
T. Katori,
T. Kobilarcik,
S. K. Linden,
W. C. Louis,
K. B. M. Mahn,
W. Marsh,
C. Mauger,
W. Metcalf
, et al. (29 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Two independent methods are employed to measure the neutrino flux of the anti-neutrino-mode beam observed by the MiniBooNE detector. The first method compares data to simulated event rates in a high purity $\numu$ induced charged-current single $\pip$ (CC1$\pip$) sample while the second exploits the difference between the angular distributions of muons created in $\numu$ and $\numub$ charged-curre…
▽ More
Two independent methods are employed to measure the neutrino flux of the anti-neutrino-mode beam observed by the MiniBooNE detector. The first method compares data to simulated event rates in a high purity $\numu$ induced charged-current single $\pip$ (CC1$\pip$) sample while the second exploits the difference between the angular distributions of muons created in $\numu$ and $\numub$ charged-current quasi-elastic (CCQE) interactions. The results from both analyses indicate the prediction of the neutrino flux component of the pre-dominately anti-neutrino beam is over-estimated - the CC1$\pip$ analysis indicates the predicted $\numu$ flux should be scaled by $0.76 \pm 0.11$, while the CCQE angular fit yields $0.65 \pm 0.23$. The energy spectrum of the flux prediction is checked by repeating the analyses in bins of reconstructed neutrino energy, and the results show that the spectral shape is well modeled. These analyses are a demonstration of techniques for measuring the neutrino contamination of anti-neutrino beams observed by future non-magnetized detectors.
△ Less
Submitted 29 January, 2013; v1 submitted 9 February, 2011;
originally announced February 2011.
